On June 27, more than 300 artists, collectors, philanthropists and friends of LongHouse Reserve gathered beneath the summer sky in East Hampton for Beautopia, the institution’s annual summer benefit celebrating its philosophy of living with art in all forms. The evening honored acclaimed artist Sean Scully and philanthropist Dr. Bruce Horten while raising vital support for LongHouse’s free school visit program, the stewardship of its 16 acres of gardens, the care of its world-class outdoor sculpture collection and the preservation of founder Jack Lenor Larsen’s iconic home as it prepares to open for public tours.
Presented with his award by art historian Joachim Pissarro, Scully reflected on the landscape that continues to inspire his work. “I’m very inspired by nature,” he said. “It’s a very similar story to Picasso and Matisse, who started out in dirty old Paris, toughing it out, and when they became successful they moved to the South of France. What I’ve done is move out here.”
LongHouse President Louis Bradbury recognized Dr. Horten for a lifetime devoted to both science and the arts. After a distinguished career as a medical pathologist, where he created and led a laboratory dedicated to the analysis of cancerous tissue and the development of effective treatments, Horten and his late partner, Aaron Lieber, built a celebrated art collection while supporting organizations that expand public access to art and music—a generosity that continues to define his philanthropy today.
The evening also marked a new chapter for LongHouse under Executive Director Lara Sweeney, who reflected on what she has discovered during her first three months leading the beloved institution.
“In my first three months at LongHouse, I’ve been welcomed with open arms by the dedicated staff and docents, amazing trustees, all the wonderful artists that make LongHouse burst with creativity…and all of you…everyone who loves LongHouse,” Sweeney shared.
Her remarks revealed the many ways LongHouse serves the community beyond its celebrated landscape. She recalled arriving just as more than one million daffodil buds emerged across the gardens, discovering that the property is home to one of the East Coast’s largest stands of redwoods, meeting students who visit LongHouse free of charge throughout the year through its school visit program and speaking with a veteran who shared that returning to the gardens had helped make living with PTSD more bearable. She also reflected on witnessing firsthand the institution’s commitment to supporting artists, thanking those who contributed works to the evening’s auction. “Most of all,” she said, “I’ve learned that LongHouse is more than an arts center, more than a garden. We are a place where people find connection, where kids learn and thrive…and for so many, it is a place that feels like magic.”
That exact spirit carried throughout the evening as Gala Co-Chairs Raisa Lopez-Rhoden and Gael Towey transformed the grounds with vibrant décor, flowing spirits and a menu celebrating local flavors. For Lopez-Rhoden, the evening held special meaning. “Five years ago, my husband and I were married right here on this lawn,” she shared. “The beauty surrounding us tonight didn’t happen by chance. It exists because of a community of gardeners, staff, volunteers, trustees, artists and friends who believe places like LongHouse matter and choose to invest their talent and generosity to help it thrive.”
Guests included board members Patrick Amato, Emma Clurman, Christopher Coy, Sherri Donghia, Anne Erni, David Fink, Dr. Derick T. George, Michael Jones, Deborah Nevins, Suzanne Slesin, Peter H. Olsen and Linda Willett, alongside Peter Bickford and Greg McCarthy, Mary Jane and Charles Brock, Michele and Marty Cohen, Renée Cox, Tom D’Agostino Jr., Laurie Lambrecht, Jada Loveless, Faith Popcorn, Bastienne Schmidt, Lee Skolnick and Edwina Von Gal.
Another highlight of the evening was LongHouse’s annual art auction, spearheaded by Dianne Benson, featuring works by more than 80 artists, including John Alexander, Daniel Arsham, Ross Bleckner, Scott Bluedorn, Liz Collins, Renée Cox, Philip Guston, Alice Hope, Alex Katz, Gaston Lachaise, Steve Miller, Robert Motherwell, Ugo Rondinone, Sean Scully, Bruce M. Sherman, Hiroko Takeda, Ai Weiwei, Deborah Willis, Jack Youngerman and Almond Zigmund, among many others.
As LongHouse prepares to welcome visitors inside Jack Lenor Larsen’s home for the first time and moves toward landmark designation through its invitation to join the National Register of Historic Places, Beautopia reflected the institution’s enduring vision: a place where gardens, sculpture, design and education are experienced together, inviting visitors to discover a more meaningful way of living with art.
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