The Guggenheim Museum held its 2025 gala, titled "Under the Oculus: A Celebration of Visionaries," honoring artist Rashid Johnson, whose solo exhibition "A Poem for Deep Thinkers" is on view at the institution, alongside the National Basketball Association and National Basketball Players Association. The event featured a seated dinner by Chef Marcus Samuelsson, a performance by Questlove and the Roots, and drew a crowd of art-world figures, sports leaders, and patrons including Abigail and Joseph Baratta, Wendy Fisher, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, and gallerist David Kordansky.
The gala underscores the Guggenheim's role as a nexus for high-profile cultural and philanthropic networking, blending contemporary art with sports and entertainment. Johnson's recognition highlights his rising prominence in the art world, while the event's timing—one of the last major gatherings before the holidays—reinforces its significance as a barometer of New York's art and social elite.