Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) hosted the ninth annual Art of the Party, where Mexican-American artist rafa esparza was announced as the recipient of the 2022 Pérez Prize, an unrestricted award of $50,000 that honors artistic achievement, funded by a gift from local patrons of the arts and longtime PAMM supporters Jorge and Darlene Pérez. The annual event, which included a celebratory Chef’s Table dinner and Remix dance party on PAMM’s waterfront terrace, raised over $800,000 for PAMM’s robust arts education programs that have served over 300,000 children since opening in December 2013.

At the event, PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans announced artist rafa esparza as the recipient of the fourth annual Pérez Prize for artistic achievement. The Los Angeles-based artist is known for his performance work exploring memory, family and colonial history. Guests also enjoyed a performance by internationally known Bossa Nova singer Cris Delanno, and a curated dinner by Constellation Culinary Group with wines from Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits.

“We are thrilled that the Miami community congregated this weekend to support PAMM’s arts education programs, from art talks and performances, to outreach programs and interactive school tours. Our institution’s mission aims to encourage everyone to see art as an incentive for the exchange of ideas, and we could not imagine a better way to implement this belief than supporting education,” said Sirmans. “PAMM is delighted to honor rafa esparza as the recipient of the fourth annual Perez Prize, an artist whose foundation is grounded in the same values as our institution, whose insightful art practice connects personal narrative with historical explorations of art and society.”

On PAMM’s waterfront terrace, Art of the Party guests celebrated esparza’s artistic achievements. The Pérez Prize represents PAMM and the Pérez family’s shared commitment to uplifting dynamic artistic voices in contemporary art. Last year’s prize was awarded to Cuban artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons, whose work explores gender, religion, memory and Afro-Cuban identity. In prior years, the Pérez prize honored sculptor Daniel Lind-Ramos and painter Christina Quarles.

During the event, guests enjoyed music from Miami based soul group Elastic Bond, and Chris Delanno, who has collaborated with some of the most important names in Bossa Nova and has toured around the world at events such as the Hollywood Bowl and the Latin Grammy Awards.

Notable guests included Miami Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, supporter of the arts Jorge Pérez, event chairs and philanthropists Alexa and Adam Wolman, 2022 prize recipient rafa esparza, Real Housewives star Marysol Patton, News Broadcaster Belkys Nerey, Weather Anchor Sam Champion, artists Rashayla Marie Brown, Naomi Fisher, Adler Guerrier, Kelley Johnson, Gisela McDaniel, Rubem Robierb, Cristina Lei Rodriguez, and Rachel Stern, Chief Curator of The Andy Warhol Museum José Carlos Diaz, Inter Miami FC owner Jorge Mas, Knight Foundation CEO Alberto Ibarguen, Founder of South Beach Wine and Food Festival Lee Brian Schrager, and Miami Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, documentary filmmaker Dennis Scholl, LACMA film producer Allison Berg, LACF owner Larry Berg, Art Advisor Graham Steele, Sultan bin Fahad bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz and Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz, gallerists Mindy Solomon, and Gabriel Kilongo.

2022 Art of the Party Chairs
Alexa and Adam Wolman
Jessica and Franklin Sirmans

Chef’s Table Host Committee
Tanvi Vattikuti Abbhi
María Bechily
Susanne Birbragher
Sam Champion
Arlene Chaplin
Chelsea Hirschhorn
Laura Kaplan
Kimberly Marshall
Christy Martin
Gail Meyers
Rubem Robierb
Nedra and Mark Oren
Alexandra Wilkis Wilson

Remix Co-Chairs
Christopher Pastor
Bibi Pestana

Remix Host Committee
Christopher Adeleke
Nick d’Annunzio
Gregory Boan
Ysset Boan
Jennifer Chaplin
Daniela Cimo
Elizabeth Coppolecchia
Monica Defortuna
Christopher DiSchino
Wendy Francois
Haiiileen
Michele Hanash
Florian Jouin
Shana Kaufman
Kinga Konsorska
Lydia and Charles Lawrie
Genna Mark
Kevin Michael
Matthew Ross
Ashley Sebok Boehne
Omar de Windt
Cristina de Windt