Member News

Rochester, NY, March 4, 2025—The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) is pleased to announce that acclaimed contemporary artist Sanford Biggers, civic leader Deborah Ronnen, and museum volunteers (the MAG Council) will be honored at the MAG Gala 2025: Celebrating the Art of Our Time, a premier evening of elegance and philanthropy dedicated to supporting the arts in the Rochester community. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 3, from 6:00–9:00 pm at the Memorial Art Gallery, with semi-formal attire encouraged. The evening is presented by gala chairs Rob Tortorella and Dalia Ghoneim. Proceeds will directly support the expansion of access to the arts through education, exhibitions, and programming that benefit the Rochester community and beyond.

Guests will enjoy a memorable evening, beginning at 6:00 pm with cocktails and an exclusive first look at the reinstallation of the Wilson and Hawks Galleries, which will showcase modern and contemporary art. At 7:45 pm, guests will be welcomed to a specially curated art-inspired dinner by Root Catering, followed by awards and remarks at 8:30 pm.

 

Click here to learn more about the event.

 

Honoring Extraordinary Contributions to the Arts

 

Artist Honoree: Sanford Biggers – An internationally acclaimed multidisciplinary artist whose work, including his outdoor sculpture “Oracle,” is featured in MAG’s Centennial Sculpture Park. Known for his transformative practice using antique quilts, sculpture, and performance, Sanford Biggers’ work is in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and Smithsonian American Art Museum, among others.

 

Arts Leader: Deborah Ronnen – A lifelong advocate for modern and contemporary art, a passionate champion of modern and contemporary art, a collector and art dealer, and a noted local philanthropist and civic leader. Deborah Ronnen’s contributions to the arts include establishing the Ann and Irving Norry Curator of Contemporary Art endowment at MAG and supporting organizations such as Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Garth Fagan Dance, the George Eastman Museum, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Eastman School of Music.

 

Outstanding Volunteer Group: MAG Council – Celebrating 85 years of volunteer service, fundraising, and community impact. Established in 1940, the all-volunteer MAG Council has raised over $4 million to support MAG’s exhibitions, programs, and capital projects, including the Centennial Sculpture Park.

 

Save the Date

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 3! Individual tickets will be available for purchase in April. More information can be found here.

 

Thank You to Our Sponsors

The evening’s Presenting sponsors are Rob Tortorella and Dalia Ghoneim.

Patron Sponsors as of March 4, 2025, are Ursula Burns, Garth Fagan Dance, George Eastman Museum, and Rubens Family Foundation. Our Champion Sponsor is Ronnen Fine Art. Stakeholder Sponsors are Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC, Dogra Art Foundation, and Lori Van Dusen and LVW Advisors. Partner Sponsors include Sonya and Quincy Allen, Chris Carretta Hunt Real Estate, Joseph Dimino, Jim and Vickie Durfee, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Heidi Friederich, Andrew and Karen Gallina, Peter and Kathy Landers, Sharon and Bob Napier, Alice K. Smith, Volvo Cars Rochester, and WHEC News 10. Ally Sponsors include George Abraham, M.D., Mark and Irina Benoit, Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Margaret M and David J Burns, Canandaigua National Bank, Mark Chaplin and John Strawway, Cottone Auctions, Kathy and John D’Amanda, McCarthy’s Tents and Events, Gail and Michael Norris, Nahoko & Don Kawakyu O’Connor, Boo Poulin, Stefano Law Firm, PLLC, Maggie and Charlie Symington, Truman and Erin Tolefree, and Denise and Patricia Williams.

A complete list of sponsors can be found here.

The Memorial Art Gallery invites additional sponsors to join us for this unforgettable evening of art, community, and philanthropy. For sponsorship opportunities and more information, please click here.

About the Memorial Art Gallery

The Memorial Art Gallery showcases art from antiquity to the present day, including the outdoor public Centennial Sculpture Park. In addition to its permanent collection, MAG offers a year-round schedule of special exhibitions, lectures, concerts, tours, after-hours social events, and family activities.

 

Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11:00 am–5:00 pm, Thursdays & Second Fridays, 11:00 am–8:00 pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Admission: $20; senior citizens, $18; college students with ID and children 6–18, $9. Always free to members, University of Rochester faculty, staff, students, and children five and under. Half-price general admission on Thursdays 5–9 pm is made possible by Monroe County. Discounted admission tickets are available when purchasing online. For more information, call 585.276.8900 or visit mag.rochester.edu

Press Contact: Paige Engard, Marketing & PR Specialist: 585.474.7695 / pengard@mag.rochester.edu

 

ASSOCIATED IMAGES:

Photo 1: Save the date for MAG Gala 2025: Celebrating the Art of Our Time, on Saturday, May 3!

Photo 2: Sanford Biggers will be honored on Saturday, May 3, at MAG Gala 2025: Celebrating the Art of our Time.

Photo 3: Deborah Ronnen will be recognized on Saturday, May 3, at MAG Gala 2025: Celebrating the Art of our Time.