Cirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala

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Cirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala

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Elisan Cozens; Tripp Carter; Susan Davidson. Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Cirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala

Amy Ryan; Hilda Curran; Lindsay Holstead. Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Cirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala

Anne Moriniere and Jack Moriniere; Sara Cain; Michael McGinnis. Photo by Jenny Antill

Cirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala

Diana Hawkins and Russell Hawkins. Photo by Jenny Antill

Cirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala

Daniel Zilkha and Janie Zilkha; Kirsten Seglem and Daniel Zimmerman. Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Cirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala

Cindy Fitch and David Fitch; Rebecca Rabinow; Linda Kelly and George Kelly. Photo by Jenny Antill

Cirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala

Carol Neuberger; Terrell James. Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Cirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala

Bruce Herzog and Debbie Hurwitz; Lulu Tan and Hugh Zhang. Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Cirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala

Barbara Gamson and Michael Gamson. Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Cirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala

Aziz Friedrich and Andee Friedrich. Photo by Daniel Ortiz

The Menil Collection welcomed 500 guests forCirque Surréaliste: The Menil Collection’s 35th Anniversary Gala. All proceeds directly support the museum’s green spaces, art buildings, and programs, which are free and open to everyone.

With the theme of a 20th-century circus, the décor was inspired by the museum’s world-renowned collection of Surrealist art, specifically Alexander Calder’sTwo Acrobats, 1929, and Fernand Léger’sJulie, The Beautiful Cyclist, 1945, and Study for the Grand Parade, 1953-54. The Events Company turned the event space into an over-the-top circus, complete with a cocktail tent with red and gold drapery. Colorful orbs continuously moved from the ceiling, and a circular bar with center stage showcased a clown’s pre-show preparation. The dining tent was resplendent with chandeliers, two grand stages, and oversized vintage French circus posters lining the walls. Vintage 15 provided music throughout the evening, along with performances by a ringmaster, stiltwalkers, jugglers, clowns, a roaming caricaturist, a juggling unicyclist, and performing dogs.