The Kitchen 2026 Spring Gala

The Kitchen 2026 Spring Fundraising Gala

Art Direction • Visual Identity • Illustration • Design Systems

Each year, The Kitchen Spring Gala celebrates artists and cultural leaders whose work has expanded the possibilities of contemporary art and helped shape future generations of creative practice.

For the 2026 Gala, the institution honored four groundbreaking figures whose contributions have transformed independent cinema and visual storytelling:

I was invited to develop the complete visual identity for the event, translating the curatorial narrative into a cohesive campaign that extended across every audience touchpoint—from invitations and fundraising materials to environmental graphics and the immersive experience of the evening itself.

The visual language centered around a restrained yet vibrant color palette inspired by Cheryl Dunye's The Watermelon Woman, using bold fields of color paired with hand-drawn illustrations that referenced film, projection, and archival media. The identity balanced contemporary minimalism with playful graphic interventions, creating a system that could flex seamlessly across print, digital, and physical environments while remaining unmistakably tied to the spirit of the honorees' work.

Beyond the printed materials, the identity informed the atmosphere of the Gala itself. The visual system became the foundation for the event's environmental design, influencing the signage, printed ephemera, floral installations, lighting direction, and custom gift packaging. By carrying the same visual language throughout the space, every element worked together to create an immersive experience that reflected both The Kitchen's experimental legacy and the cinematic practices of the evening's honorees.

Working closely with executive leadership, curatorial staff, and programming teams, I translated institutional goals into a unified visual strategy that strengthened fundraising efforts while elevating the guest experience through thoughtful, illustration-driven design. Leading the project from initial concept through final production, establishing the creative vision and designing the complete visual system.