LongHouse Reserve welcomed more than 300 guests to its annual Summer Benefit, Beautopia, on Saturday, June 27, 2026, in East Hampton, New York. The evening honored acclaimed artist Sean Scully and philanthropist Dr. Bruce Horten while raising vital funds to support LongHouse’s educational and public programs, the stewardship of its gardens and world-class sculpture collection, and the preservation of founder Jack Lenor Larsen’s iconic home.
Set within LongHouse’s 16-acre landscape, Beautopia brought together art, nature, philanthropy, and community in a colorful celebration of the institution’s mission to inspire living with art in all forms. The event was photographed by PMC/Getty and BFA.
Honoring Sean Scully and Dr. Bruce Horten
Art historian Joachim Pissarro presented the evening’s award to Sean Scully, whose work and life have long been shaped by the natural world. Reflecting on his relationship with the landscape, Scully shared, “I’m very inspired by nature. It’s a very similar story to Picasso and Matisse, who started out in dirty old Paris, toughing it out, and when they became successful they moved to the South of France. What I’ve done is move out here.”
LongHouse President Louis Bradbury paid tribute to Dr. Bruce Horten, recognizing both his professional achievements and his deep commitment to the arts. “Bruce is a multifaceted gentleman, who spent his professional career as a medical pathologist creating and leading a laboratory dedicated to the analysis of cancerous tissues and developing effective treatments, saving many, many lives,” Bradbury said. He also honored Horten and his late partner, Aaron Lieber, as devoted art collectors and supporters of cultural organizations that make art and music accessible to broader audiences.
A New Chapter Under Lara Sweeney
New Executive Director Lara Sweeney reflected on her first three months at LongHouse and the deep sense of community she has encountered since joining the institution. She spoke warmly of the dedicated staff, docents, trustees, artists, and supporters who make LongHouse a place of creativity and connection.
Sweeney also highlighted the profound impact of LongHouse’s gardens and programs. She noted the more than one million daffodil buds that welcomed her in spring, the property’s remarkable stand of Redwoods, and the many students who visit free of charge through school programs. She emphasized the importance of children spending time in nature and engaging in art making, noting that these experiences can help them thrive.
She also described LongHouse as a place of healing, recalling a veteran who shared that visits to the grounds had helped make living with PTSD more bearable. “LongHouse is more than an arts center, more than a garden,” Sweeney said. “We are a place where people find connection, where kids learn and thrive, and for so many, it is a place that feels like magic.”
A Magical Beautopia Landscape
Gala Co-Chairs Raisa Lopez-Rhoden and Gael Towey helped create the evening’s vibrant Beautopia atmosphere, complete with bright, colorful décor, flowing spirits, and delicious local food. For Lopez-Rhoden, the setting held special personal meaning.
“For me, LongHouse is deeply personal,” she shared. “Five years ago, my husband and I were married right here on this lawn, so it will always hold a very meaningful place in my heart.” She added that the beauty of LongHouse exists because of the collective dedication of gardeners, staff, volunteers, trustees, artists, and friends who believe in the importance of sustaining places like LongHouse.
Guests and Community Support
The evening welcomed a distinguished group of trustees, artists, collectors, and supporters. Guests included Board Members Patrick Amato, Emma Clurman, Christopher Coy, Sherri Donghia, Anne Erni, David Fink, Dr. Derick T. George, Michael Jones, Deborah Nevins, Suzanne Slesin, Peter H. Olsen, and Linda Willett.
Also in attendance were Peter Bickford and Greg McCarthy, Mary Jane and Charles Brock, Michele and Marty Cohen, Renée Cox, Tom D’Agostino Jr., Laurie Lambrecht, Jada Loveless, Faith Popcorn, Bastienne Schmidt, Lee Skolnick, and Edwina Von Gal.
Art Auction Highlights
The annual art auction, spearheaded by Dianne Benson, featured works by an impressive roster of artists, including John Alexander, Daniel Arsham, Ross Bleckner, Scott Bluedorn, Mary Boochever, Stephanie Brody-Lederman, Parker Calvert, Philippe Cheng, Liz Collins, Renée Cox, David Kennedy Cutler, Michael De Feo, Christopher Robin Duncan, Jim Gingerich, Philip Guston, Alex Katz, Esther Mahlangu, Robert Motherwell, Ugo Rondinone, Sean Scully, Deborah Willis, Jason Bard Yarmosky, Jack Youngerman, Almond Zigmund, and many others.
The auction underscored LongHouse’s deep connection to artists and its ongoing role as a platform for creativity, experimentation, and cultural exchange.
Sponsors and Supporters
LongHouse gratefully acknowledged the generous support of its sponsors, including Audible, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Michele and Marty Cohen, Lucifer Lighting, Robert Brown Interior Design, Sunbrella, Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch, Bernadette and James Zumot, Café Aroma, Casper’s Caviar, Collina Viola, Fusion Lighting, Hamptons Magazine, Hampton’s Aristocrat Hospitality, Macari Vineyards, Party Rental LTD, Stamford Tent, Telmont Champagne, The Colony Hotel, The Fifth Avenue Hotel, The Modern, Umbra, Whitmores, Winter Brothers, and Wölffer Estate Vineyard.
About LongHouse Reserve
Located in East Hampton, LongHouse Reserve is a 16-acre sanctuary where art, nature, and design converge. Founded by artist, collector, and internationally renowned textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen, LongHouse was created to inspire living with art in all forms.
Its gardens, outdoor installations, collections, and public programs reflect world cultures and foster creative engagement. The sculpture garden features more than 60 outdoor works, including major pieces by Buckminster Fuller, Yoko Ono, Toshiko Takaezu, and Willem de Kooning, along with seasonal loans from artists such as Maren Hassinger, William Kentridge, Kenny Scharf, Sean Scully, and Gaston Lachaise.
LongHouse has recently transitioned from a founder-led institution into a board and staff-led public organization. Its next chapter includes plans to welcome visitors into Larsen’s modernist home, inspired by the Shinto Shrine at Ise, where they will be able to experience his extensive craft and design collections. LongHouse has also been invited to join the National Register of Historic Places, supporting its path toward landmark status and preservation in perpetuity.
LongHouse Reserve is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Members may visit early during Member Mornings on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. General admission is $20, with half-price tickets for seniors and free admission for veterans, active-duty military personnel, members of the Shinnecock Nation, children under 12, and students with valid school or college ID.
More information is available at www.longhouse.org.
