Led by Selldorf Architects, with executive architect Beyer Blinder Belle at the helm, the Frick project was carefully designed to preserve the institution’s architectural integrity while modernizing and expanding public access. Many New Yorkers looked forward to the re-opening, including me—so visiting the refreshed landmark and attending the opening gala was a special experience. Considering this was the hottest ticket in town, you could feel the excitement among the well-dressed attendees, which included art patrons, celebrities and people in the art industry.
Frick’s transformation is the most significant since the museum’s opening in 1935. The project brought first-floor galleries back to their original splendor and, for the first time ever, opened up new exhibition spaces on the second floor of the original Frick family residence. Walking up the grandiose staircase brings you straight back to the Gilded Age. You can easily imagine yourself going to the past, fantasizing about the many dinners being held here with the Frick family. Not only did the Opening Gala celebrate the reimagined Frick, it marked the retirement of Ian Wardropper, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Director. This sold-out black-tie event, the first to be held in the refurbished Fifth Avenue building, raised $3.7 million in support of the museum and library programs in conservation, education, and exhibitions.
Coming in gala attendees enjoyed a preview of the new second-floor galleries and dined among masterpieces in the newly restored first-floor spaces. Inspired floral arrangements adorned each gallery dining room, reflecting both the architecture and the art on view. Guests were treated to specialty bars featuring the newly released A. Overholt Monongahela Mash rye whiskey, honoring the museum founder’s family legacy.
The renovation allowed for more room, which will hold special exhibitions, brand-new education spaces, and a stunning 218-seat auditorium. In June, the new special exhibition galleries will host “Vermeer’s Love Letters,” continuing the Frick’s tradition of focused, scholarly exhibitions. Visitors can also enjoy the refreshed 70th Street Garden and the pond from different spots throughout the building. The Frick Art Reference Library is open to the public too, now flowing seamlessly into the museum experience where you can read or study while soaking in old world ambiance.
During dinner, Elizabeth “Betty” Eveillard, Chair of the Board of Trustees, welcomed guests and celebrated the return to the museum’s historic home. She expressed gratitude for the community’s support and honored Ian Wardropper, highlighting his vital leadership during the renovation and announcing the naming of the new Ian Wardropper Education Room in recognition of his contributions to expanding educational outreach.
Axel Rüger, the new Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Director, followed with heartfelt remarks, applauding Ian’s legacy and emphasizing the Frick’s continued commitment to accessibility and inspiration. He presented Ian with a commemorative Christofle silver tray, reversing Ian’s usual role as presenter at the event. In his farewell speech, Ian reflected on the unique, immersive experience of the Frick, where visitors walk through the opulent mansion and encounter masterpieces in a very personal setting. He emphasized that preserving this essence was central to the renovation project,his lasting legacy as director. Ian expressed gratitude to those who made the transformation possible, paid tribute to his family, and concluded with a resounding, “Long live the Frick!”
We ended the evening with a special treat, whimsical dessert, a chocolate box shaped like an art shipping crate, which cracked open with a gold hammer to reveal a sweet surprise. It included one of nine custom shortbread cookies modeled after iconic Frick paintings. As parting gifts, attendees received a copy of Ian’s recent book, The Fricks Collect: An American Family and the Evolution of Taste in the Gilded Age, along with a custom box of Ladurée macarons. This re-opening and gala experience is a lasting memory for me, one that brought me closer to New York history.
The Frick Collection, 1 East 70th St (betw 5th/Madison Ave) Upper East Side
