New York’s art world came together in spectacular fashion on October 28th as the Rema Hort Mann Fund celebrated its 30th anniversary with a milestone gala at Tribeca Rooftop. Bringing together more than 300 distinguished artists, collectors, philanthropists, and cultural luminaries, the evening raised an impressive $1.5 million, honoring the organization’s enduring legacy while ushering in a new chapter of charitable giving.
Founded in 1995 in memory of Rema Hort Mann, who lost her battle with cancer at just 30 years old, the organization has become a vital force in supporting emerging artistic talent and individuals facing cancer. Over three decades, the fund has distributed more than $9.5 million in financial assistance to over 650 emerging artists and 2,400 cancer patients and their families.
The anniversary celebration honored founder and influential art collector Susan Hort, whose unwavering commitment to championing emerging artists has helped shape the organization’s remarkable legacy. Presented with the Legacy Award by her daughter, Dr. Shoshana Hort, Susan was recognized for her decades of leadership, generosity, and dedication to nurturing the next generation of creative talent.
Also receiving recognition were prominent philanthropists George Wells and Manfred Rantner, who were presented with the Philanthropic Leadership Award by celebrated contemporary artist Mickalene Thomas. Longtime supporters of the arts, the couple were recognized for their commitment to cultural institutions, artistic mentorship, and their early support of the fund’s newest initiative.
Among the evening’s most poignant moments was the recognition of acclaimed interdisciplinary artist Jacolby Satterwhite, a two-time cancer survivor whose personal journey helped inspire the newly established Artists Living with Cancer Grant. Presented with a special $25,000 recognition grant through a partnership with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Satterwhite spoke movingly about his childhood cancer diagnosis and the profound influence it had on his artistic ambitions.
The groundbreaking initiative represents a meaningful intersection of the organization’s two founding missions, providing at least $10,000 in unrestricted financial assistance to ten New York metropolitan-area visual artists undergoing cancer treatment.
The evening attracted an impressive cross-section of the contemporary art world. Among those in attendance were artists Dana Schutz, Katherine Bradford, Cristina BanBan, Fred Tomaselli, and Aliza Nisenbaum; prominent gallerists Stefania Bortolami, Anton Kern, and Rachel Uffner; and collectors and philanthropists Poju and Anita Zabludowicz, as well as Polina Proshkina.
Adding to the festivities, Phillips partnered with the organization for a spirited benefit auction featuring more than 80 donated artworks by leading contemporary artists, including Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Kehinde Wiley, Mickalene Thomas, and Dana Schutz. Satterwhite’s immersive work A Metta Prayer provided a striking visual backdrop to the celebration.
As the evening drew to a close, the gathering served as a powerful reminder of the art world’s extraordinary capacity for generosity. Thirty years after its founding, the Rema Hort Mann Fund continues to transform personal loss into lasting opportunity, proving that the intersection of art, community, and philanthropy can create an enduring legacy of hope.
