Guild Hall Gala Honors Trustee Ken Wyse

Guild Hall Trustee Ken Wyse will be honored for his outstanding leadership and enduring commitment to the institution’s 2023 Summer Gala on Friday, August 4. The event will begin at 5 p.m. at Guild Hall with a special preview of “Celestial Garden,” an immersive installation by artist Leo Villareal, known for his light sculptures, use of LED technology and computer-driven imagery.

The evening will be emceed by theatrical innovator, fashion model and style influencer Jordan Roth, a recent inductee into Guild Hall’s Academy of Art. Guild Hall exhibiting artists Renée Cox and Leo Villareal will also attend.

Guests will kick off the evening in the newly renovated galleries as the first to see Leo Villareal’s installation, as well as the survey “Renée Cox: A Proof of Being,” and then take a short stroll to nearby Mulford Farm at 6 p.m. for a cocktail hour followed by dinner at 7 p.m., a performance by the 2023 Guild Hall and Bel Canto Boot Camp resident artists, and dancing by DJ Mick to close out the festive evening. Catering will feature artful creations by Laurence Craig and Anthony Taccetta Event Design returns to execute the event concept and décor.

“The 2023 Summer Gala celebrates Guild Hall’s revitalization and one of our greatest champions who helped make it happen, Ken Wyse,” said Guild Hall Director Andrea Grover. “With art always at the forefront, we also celebrate our two exhibiting artists, Renée Cox, and Leo Villareal, whose new monumental light sculpture will start the evening with immersion in art.”

The Summer Gala is Guild Hall’s largest annual fundraiser and garners essential funds for the institution’s year-round programming.

Ken Wyse has been a Guild Hall trustee since 2014 and currently serves as the 2nd vice chair of the executive committee, as well as the chair of the development and events committees. Wyse is the president of Wyse Consulting, a firm he established after retiring from PVH Corporation after an illustrious 30-plus-year career, where he is involved in consulting and strategic planning for domestic and international brands, working to expand their presence in both the domestic and international markets, as well as in the retail arena.

Guild Hall’s annual Summer Gala honoring Ken Wyse begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, August 4, at Guild Hall, 158 Main Street, East Hampton, and will continue from 6 to 10 p.m. at Mulford Farm, 10 James Lane, East Hampton. Tickets and tables can be purchased online at guildhall.org/summergala or by contacting Kendra Korczak, director of events and corporate relations, at events@guildhall.org or 631-324-0806 ext.116.