Over twenty years ago, Performa was founded upon the means of expanding possibilities and resources for visual artists of the performance medium in the heart of New York City and worldwide. Today, they celebrate their 2025 Biennial through an Opening Night Celebration at New York’s Harlem Parish, a venue fit for the occasion’s grandeur with a historical elegance that mimics the medium’s fundamental presence in society.

Faces of the creative community gathered for an evening of dinner and wine, honoring artist Julie Mehretu, as well as Performa’s 20th anniversary and the lasting impact they’ve made on performance art. The evening marked the start of Performa’s 2025 Biennial, where three weeks of hosted performances, conversations, screenings, installations, and workshops will ensue.

But what’s dinner without a party to follow? Guests then headed to the Performa 2025 Hub for a special Artist Party that commemorated the artists of the 2025 Biennial and the continued legacy that is built upon every two years through Performa’s initiatives for the working visual artist. Expanding experiential work two-dimensionally, the party marked the launch of Works in Practice, their new magazine to be published in both print and digital.

As the night drew to a close, Performa’s celebration stood as both a look back at two decades of groundbreaking artistry and a glimpse ahead to the boundless creativity yet to come.