You know what I would love? If Prince Harry got more involved in the art world. It feels like it could happen too. Last night, a few hours after his appearance at the NYT’s DealBook Summit, Harry attended an exclusive launch party at the Ki Smith Gallery. In a few weeks, the Ki Smith Gallery will host an open exhibition to benefit Sentebale, Prince Harry’s Lesotho charity. The exhibition is called “Friend.” Harry happily posed with Ki Smith and some gallery officials and artists.
Prince Harry looked all smiles at the VIP cocktail reception for Friend (A Survey of Op Art & Minimalism), a new exhibition set to raise funds for Sentebale, the charity the prince cofounded in 2006. Harry, 40, dressed in a dapper suit and white dress shirt at the event on Wednesday, December 4, at the Ki Smith Gallery in New York City. He mingled with fellow guests and introduced a panel discussion on the intersection of art and impact.
Friend, which opens to the public on December 14, is a specially curated exhibition featuring works by artists Bridget Riley, Frank Stella, Tadaaki Kuwayama, Alana Dee Haynes, Dylan Reitz-Cruz and Sono Kuwayama. The sales proceeds will benefit Sentebale, which supports young people in Southern Africa to find sustainable solutions for health, wealth creation and climate resilience.
“We are deeply grateful to Ki for curating this remarkable exhibition and for traveling with us to Lesotho and South Africa in October to witness firsthand the impact of Sentebale’s work,” Harry said in a statement. “To the incredible artists who have contributed their talent and vision, thank you for lending your voices to Sentebale.”
This is what I mean about getting more involved in the art world – there are probably so many artists (American and international) who would love to be part of these kinds of charity-associated exhibitions. More of this! Anyway, I’m glad Harry had yet another high-profile business trip to New York. He’s done the same amount of events this week as his “working royal” brother.
📸 Last night, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, joined @KiSmithGallery for an exclusive VIP reception launching the “Friend” exhibition to benefit Sentebale.
🎨 Celebrating the power of art and philanthropy, proceeds from the purchase of the stunning collection will support… pic.twitter.com/KkhAmPvmDd
— @Sentebale (@Sentebale) December 5, 2024
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Look at that! We know exactly who the artists are!
Good work, Prince Harry.
Lol, that’s exactly what I was thinking! We can even see them, too.
Harry and his team are so good at directing the spotlight where it belongs. Yeah, everyone wants a pic with Prince Freaking Harry, but we know who the artists are and what they are supporting. I love this so much!
Nice!
As long as Harry stays away from artists who duct tape bananas to walls, this might work.
Why?! That banana brought in millions before it was eaten!!! 😂
I so admire how the Sussexes follow through with the charities. They so empower those folks and do it with such joy.
Very cool❤️.
I love this. Harry has really grown in the last few years.
Harry is making his mark in philanthropy, as well as the art scene. The focus on the artists and staff is a sharp contrast to the way each of Slumlord Willy’s projects all center himself. Harry is so impressive and his heart is huge.
But what I have wondered since I started paying attention to the royal family (when Meghan joined) is, why doesn’t Kate do things like this? She was an Art History major, right? How easy would it be for her or her advisors to set her up to do stuff like this? England has great museums and so much for someone who is in the arts to be fascinated by and really show up for but I haven’t heard of her doing a charity ball or fundraiser for any of the museums or even frequenting them when they have a big exhibition. She and William could go glam and go to these events and it would be good press, not too much work… it’s just odd they haven’t.
It is simply because they (W&K) don’t want to work, even for fun events. Will missed the BAFTA’s a lot of times, once a year event. I truly believe if Meghan didn’t marry Harry, W&K would be still non-working senior royals who are raising their young family. Once Meghan came into the scene, they became full-time royals. Since Meghan left, they also lost their ambition to do their job. I really want to know what they do with all their free times. I know I would be bored after a few years of no work.
1) She doesn’t know anything about art, despite the degree.
2) She decided to do “Art History” (or History of Art) because that is what many aristocrats who don’t really need to work tend to do at UK universities. Plus she had discovered that this was what William was going to do at St. Andrews. All part of the stalking plot.
3) She is lazy, never been interested in working or sticking to a schedule, however flexible. Art History was always a means to an end, nothing more.
Just wanted to comment on how everyone in these pics is truly happy and enjoying themselves. No one is looking bored, surprised, mildly annoyed; just happy to be in Harry’s kind, generous presence.
Yes I came here to comment on this too. Everyone is glowing, relaxed, at ease.
Well done, Harry. He has charme and he has developed it towards empathy and kindness, like his mum I’m sure would have wanted. Good king Henry indeed.