DETROIT, MI – The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) will host its 19TH ANNUAL GALA + ART AUCTION, PHOENIX RISING, on Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 7–11 PM at the Harmonie Club in downtown Detroit. This year’s event honors nearly two decades of fearless creativity, celebrating Detroit’s vibrant cultural community as MOCAD prepares for its 20th anniversary in 2026.

Themed Phoenix Rising, the evening will center on transformation and rebirth, reflecting both the museum’s enduring role in the city’s creative ecosystem and its forward-looking vision. Guests will enjoy a curated dinner, live activations, an art auction featuring works by local and national artists, and a special performance by Detroit-based musician SHIGETO, whose electrifying live ensemble is unmatched. The evening will be emceed by jessica Care moore, celebrated poet, writer, and performer.

“This gala is a celebration of our city’s resilience and creative renewal,” said Marie Madison-Patton, Co-Director + Chief Operating Officer of MOCAD. “Detroit’s artists, thinkers, and cultural workers continue to inspire us to reimagine what’s possible. Phoenix Rising honors that collective spirit and the transformative power of art.”

“Phoenix Rising celebrates our shared creative spirit—rooted in Detroit and connected to a global community of artists, thinkers, and collaborators,” said Jova Lynne, Co-Director + Artistic Director of MOCAD. “As we approach our twentieth year, we’re honoring those who’ve built this foundation—both here and beyond—while inviting everyone to imagine and shape the next chapter of Detroit’s creative future together.”

The 2025 Gala will recognize several honorees whose work has profoundly shaped the artistic and cultural fabric of Detroit and beyond:

• dream hampton is an award-winning filmmaker and writer. She was Showrunner and Executive Producer on the Emmy-nominated documentary series Surviving R. Kelly, which earned her a Peabody Award.  Hers is a practice that combats erasure and exposes the entanglement of art, violence, and power.  In 2019, TIME magazine named hampton one of the most influential people in the world. On being honored hampton said, “It’s never been more important to take care of each other, to build independent institutions that center creative community” (like MOCAD).
  
  
• CARY LOREN has shaped Detroit’s cultural landscape through fearless experimentation across writing, music, visual art, and community building. Beginning with self-published art zines in the 1970s, he went on to co-found the influential band Destroy All Monsters, publish poetry and essays, and create zines, videos, and collage-based art. As co-owner of The Book Beat in Oak Park, Loren fosters dialogue through discussions of world literature and champions independent art and music. We celebrate him for his enduring commitment to nurturing Detroit’s creative spirit and documenting its rich, complex history.
  
  
• CHRIS SCHANCK transforms decay into elegance, uncovering beauty in imperfection through a fusion of the weathered and the opulent. After earning degrees from the School of Visual Arts and Cranbrook Academy of Art, he founded a Detroit studio in 2011 that engages local artists and community members in producing distinctive, handcrafted pieces. Best known for his Alufoil series, Schanck transforms discarded materials into fantastical yet functional objects, merging practical use with dreamlike forms. We celebrate him for reimagining how art, design, and place intersect in Detroit and beyond.
  
  
• JON GRAY is the cofounder of Ghetto Gastro, the Bronx-born culinary collective reshaping food as a cultural force. Blending his roots with a background in fashion and design, Gray creates immersive experiences that challenge narratives and celebrate the Bronx’s global influence. A TED speaker and Civic Practice Artist in Residence at The Met, he also guest-curated Jon Gray of Ghetto Gastro Selects at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, exploring Afrofuturist themes.
  
  
• THE KRESGE FOUNDATION has been a steadfast supporter of MOCAD since its earliest days, championing arts-based leadership and uplifting cultural movements that strengthen communities. A private, national foundation, Kresge works to expand equity and opportunity in America’s cities through grantmaking and social investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and community development— nationally and in Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans, and Fresno. We celebrate the Foundation for its visionary commitment to creative, lasting change and its profound impact on how MOCAD can show up for Detroit and beyond. On being honored, the Kresge Foundation reflects, “We are deeply honored by this recognition from MOCAD. The museum is a vital force in Detroit’s cultural life, and we are proud to stand alongside so many artists and partners who use creativity to strengthen community.”

JOIN US
Tickets begin at $1,000, with sponsorships ranging from $2,500 to $100,000. Sponsors and guests directly support MOCAD’s exhibitions, education programs, and artist initiatives, while enjoying exclusive benefits such as VIP curator tours, private artist dinners, logo recognition, and invitations to special MOCAD events.

Tickets and sponsorships are available on our Gala page or by contacting development@mocadetroit.org.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART DETROIT
The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is a non-collecting institution dedicated to exploring contemporary art and ideas from Detroit and around the world. Through exhibitions, public programs, and youth education, MOCAD fosters experimentation, dialogue, and creative possibility. Learn more at mocadetroit.org or follow @mocadetroit on social media.

CONTACT
Carolina Adams
Sutton Communications
mocad@suttoncomms.com