Reed Krakoff will receive the 2013 American Art Award tonight from the Whitney Museum of American Art. A gala dinner will be held at the Highline Stages, chaired by Whitney Trustees Susan Hess, Brooke Garber Neidich, and Scott Resnick. Proceeds from the gala will go toward the Whitney’s exhibition and educational programming.
Krakoff will accept the prestigious award (now in its 22nd year) for his outstanding and continued involvement in American arts and culture, as well as for his longstanding commitment to the development of New York City’s cultural institutions.
“The Whitney collection is an important index of most, if not all, of the American artists who have impacted the culture of art and who I draw influence from in my design process and daily life. I have a profound admiration for the beauty and genius of the artists and their works in the collection and to be recognized by the Whitney for my support is one of the greatest honors I have achieved to-date,” said Krakoff of the honor.
Krakoff is well-known for his work in fashion as the creative director of the Reed Krakoff Collection and the president and executive creative director of Coach. He is also a fantastic photographer (he shoots, among other things, all of his eponymous collection’s campaign imagery) and is an avid collector of art and design.
For tonight’s event, Krakoff also invited artists Kiki Smith, Kate Gilmore, Adam Helms, and Nan Goldin to join him in designing a personalized Reed Krakoff tote available through the evening’s silent auction.
The award, also given to Michael Ward Stout, Martin Margulies, and the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, comes in the form of an original artwork, this year by Anne Collier.
