The Evangelists
Behind every great artist and art scene is an army of advocates, pushing for exposure and equity.
Behind every great artist and art scene is an army of advocates, pushing for exposure and equity.
AGNES GUND
Agnes Gund is a legendary philanthropist with decades of arts support, including serving as president emerita at the Museum of Modern Art, promoting arts education in public schools, and providing funding for artists in prison. Her generosity has also been crucial to AIDS research, abortion-rights advocacy, and patronage for marginalized artists.
VIRGINIA COLEMAN
Virginia Coleman is Gagosian’s longtime communications leader for its cutting-edge contemporary art galleries across the globe. Currently senior director of client relations, she has been pivotal in bolstering the international reach of the blue-chip arts operation and its representation of major artists such as Damien Hirst, Richard Serra, and Takashi Murakami.
DAMIAN WOETZEL
After two decades as a principal dancer with New York City Ballet, Damian Woetzel became president of the Juilliard School in 2017. The dancer and choreographer is promoting equity in the arts for the next generation of performers, having also created the Jerome Robbins Foundation’s New Essential Works Program in 2009.
JON BATISTE
Jon Batiste has lived with jazz since he was born into the multi-generational Batiste family of New Orleans musicians. Whether as the bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert or creative director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, he has made his musical practice an act of community.
ANNA DEVEARE SMITH
When the MacArthur Foundation honored Anna Deavere Smith as a “Genius,” it recognized her creation of “a new form of theatre” where engaging performances are imbued with social commentary and journalism. The playwright, actor, and educator draws on extensive interviews to address issues of race, inequality, and criminal justice.
DARREN WALKER
Helping to secure the $1 billion designated for 2020 nonprofit pandemic support was only the latest example of Darren Walker’s influential leadership in human welfare as president of the Ford Foundation, which has also included efforts to address climate change advocacy and social justice. His previous work with the Rockefeller Foundation involved rebuilding New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
ALEXANDER ADLER
Alexander Adler, a founder and principal of the Adler Beatty art dealership with Frances Beatty, brings expertise in art and its market to decades-long relationships with collectors, museums, galleries, and scholars. As director of the Ray Johnson Estate, he has worked on securing the late artist’s legacy since 2011.
MISTY COPELAND
In 2015, Misty Copeland became the first Black woman to be promoted to principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre. Her philanthropic work towards diversity in dance includes her foundation’s Be Bold initiative launched in 2022 and aimed at increasing creative opportunities for Black and Latino children.
RENÉE FLEMING
Known for her radiantly powerful voice, Renée Fleming is among the world’s most celebrated sopranos, performing with the Metropolitan Opera and winning Grammys and the National Medal of Arts. She has championed new music and advocates for literacy and advancing research into connections among art, neuroscience, and health.