ICA Gala: Avant-garden

April 18, 2026
6 p.m. Reception SOLD OUT
7 p.m. Dinner SOLD OUT
9 p.m. After-Party

Dress Code:
Creative Formal
Like spring bulbs breaking ground, we invite you to step out in your finest creative flair, inspired by all things natural, floral, artistic, and avant-garde.

Location:
Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University
Markel Center
601 W Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23220

Imagine an evening where art comes alive, and your support directly empowers the future of contemporary expression.

Experience the art of giving at this immersive, unforgettable evening. Located at the iconic Markel Center, this special event features curated experiences influenced by contemporary art and culture that are designed to uplift and delight. Proceeds directly support the ICA’s mission to listen, to create, and to make art public, and your participation enables the creation of groundbreaking exhibitions that foster learning and dialogue through gallery installations, programs, publications, and the commissioning of new and ambitious works of art by emerging and established artists.

Inspired by the natural world and the emergent, cutting-edge, and ever more ambitious nature of the ICA’s artistic program, the theme of this year’s gala is Avant-garden. Please join us in this extraordinary celebration of cultural leadership and artistic excellence alongside 450 fellow guests—arts supporters, community partners, artists, and art world leaders—for an unforgettable evening of creative cocktails and culinary delights, stories of art and impact, and lively entertainment.

Whether you join us at the gala dinner or amp up the energy at the after-party, we invite you to experience this opportunity to celebrate creativity and connect with fellow arts supporters!

Tickets are NOW ON SALE for Night Bloom, the ICA Gala After-Party happening on Saturday, April 18!

Ways to participate:

ICA Gala Individual Sponsorship
ICA Gala Corporate Sponsorship

For more information, please contact Maya Erhardt by email at erhardtmb@vcu.edu or by phone at 804.828.2815.

ICA Gala: Information for guests

Gala Chairs
Pam Royall
Marcia and Harry Thalhimer

Dinner Sponsor

Reception Sponsor

Award Sponsor

Bar Sponsor

Arts Community Sponsor

Valet Sponsor

Institutional Sponsors
Atlantic Union Bank
Common Wealth Public Art Fund
Crozier Fine Arts
Dana Foundation
Davenport & Company LLC
Kickstarter
Main Projects
Reynolds Gallery
VMFA
VPM Board of Directors
Williams Mullen

Individual Sponsors and Host Committee
Mr. and Mrs. Tiffany B. Armstrong; Jay Barrows; Melody Barnes and Marland Buckner; Richard Birnbaum; Gwen Burroughs; Adrienne Burrus and Andrea Stillman; David and Christy Cottrell; Molly Dodge; Birch Douglass; Jack and Nita Enoch; BK Fulton and Jackie Stone; Dean Giavos and Rachel Lamel; Paige and Philip Goodpasture; Freddie and Lawrence Gray; Bruce Gray; True Harrigan and Jay Collier; Terrell and Elliott Harrigan; Jil and Hiter Harris; Cynthia and Charles L. Holmes; Steve and Wendy Humble; Karen and Pat Kelly; John and Deborah Kemper; Jim Klaus and Brent Morris; Alice and Mac Livingston; Nancy Brennan Lund and Leo Yeager in memory of Bev Reynolds; Steve and Kathie Markel; Brian and Laura Martin Mills; Beth and Ricky Mason; Julia and Reilly Monroe; Abby W. Moore; Joe and Caroline Murillo; John and Michelle Nestler; Thomas and Angel Papa; James Prosek; Celia Rafalko; John Ravenal and Virginia Pye; Pam Royall; Ann and Jerry Samford; Brock and Alexandra Saunders; Michael Schewel and Priscilla Burbank; Tracy and Tom Stallings; Each Other (Sam Taylor and Liza Pittard); Marcia and Harry Thalhimer; Eric and Rob Thomas-Suwall; Deborah and Thomas Valentine; Waqas Wajahat; Julie and Paul Weissend; Jimmy Wheat; J.D. and Elizabeth Wright; and Lorna and Randy Wyckoff.

Creative Partners and In Kind Sponsors
A Sharper Palate
Apothec
Carytown Teas
Christine Barringer
Chef Leah Branch, The Roosevelt
Cut Cut
DJ Mikemetic
Day Starr Valet
Enigma Studios
Fat Rabbit Cakes
Peter Cochrane, VCUarts MFA ‘19
FIELD floral design
Ethan Hickerson Photography
Lady Chiller
Loie Hollowell, VCUarts MFA ‘12
Love Club
Malcolm Majer
Miramar
Rent-E-Quip
Rick’s Custom Frame
River City Tattoo and Piercing Co.
Southwest Mountains Vineyards
Spang TV
Stage Right
Stauer
TAKAAT