Bailey House Honors Queer, Black Artist Derrick Adams; Benefit Raises Over $200,000 For New Yorkers Living With HIV/AIDS, Chronic Illnesses

A removable red-white-and-blue ice pop springs up at an angle from a square launch pad. The stick of the quintessential frozen summer “firecracker,” “rocket,” or “bomb” treat replica is inscribed with the artist’s signature and the work’s edition number. Multidisciplinary artist Derrick Adams chose the sentimental imagery to convey a celebration of and open a conversation about contemporary Black life and culture. Even if it’s not the same pop every viewer chose as a kid on a sweltering day, it evokes the joy of hearing whatever cheerful, catchy tune the ice cream cart played as it rolled into your childhood neighborhood. It may also symbolize a new interpretation of the American dream.

Adams’ Cool Down Pop (RWB), AP5 (2023) fetched $8,000 during a live auction Monday evening at the Art House benefit at The Bowery Hotel in New York City, hosted by Bailey House, the leading provider of housing and supportive services for New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses.

Art enthusiasts may recognize the painted aluminum sculpture from multiples sold by Gagosian, signaling Adams’ status in the art world.

The live auction included the sale of Herb Ritts’ bold, sensual Duo II, Los Angeles (1990). Combined with a silent online auction and donation, the joyous community-building event raised over $200,000.

The online auction, powered by Artsy, featured more than 50 original works by: Adams, Abdolreza Aminlari, Matthew Bede Murphy, Kayleena Berry, LaKela Brown, Debra Cartwright, Cecile Chong, Natasha Das, Damien Davis, Jay Davis, Saul Endara, Aristotle Forrester, Philippe Hausmeier, Karsen Heagle, Gonzalo Hernandez, John Kelly, Karo Kuchar, Lucas Michael, Ruben Natal-San Miguel, Kwesi O. Kwarteng, Sean O’Connor, Emilio Perez, Ritts, Kevin Sabo, Haris Sardar, Agathe Snow, Jeremy Sorese, George Stoll, Berend Strik, Borris Torres, and Louis Venturelli.

“We read the news every day coming from Washington, and it is terrifying. By being here tonight, you’re helping us to protect, serve, and house communities that are under direct attack,” Chair of the Board of Directors of Bailey House, Kathleen McGivney, told supporters Monday. “Thank you for showing up and standing up for an organization that’s working to build New York better. Tonight is a celebration of art, and I’m so grateful to the artists who have generously donated their treasures for auction.”

Adams was honored Monday as the 2025 Gina Quattrochi Arts & Legacy Award recipient.

“It’s a privilege to be here to support an organization that’s bringing joy to so many people through life saving services, the mission of Housing Works and Bailey House deeply align with the vision of the artists we’re here to honor tonight,” said Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer at New York Live Arts, Kim Cullen. “Derek Adams is a friend, a singular, once-in-a-generation talent, best known for his vibrant depictions of Black joy, leisure, beauty, creating art that examines the cultural capital built by Black people throughout history.”

Adams’ work has been featured in solo exhibitions at institutions such as The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland (2022); The Momentary, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville (2021); Hudson River Museum, Yonkers (2020); and the Museum of Arts and Design, New York (2018). Adams has mounted multiple public installations, and his work has been featured in notable group exhibitions, including: Giants: Art from the Dean Collection, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn (2024); The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore (2023); Packaged Black: Derrick Adams & Barbara Earl Thomas, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle (2022); Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair, Kent State University Museum (2021–2022); and Performa, New York (2015, 2013, 2005). His art is in the collections of many institutions, including: The Brooklyn Museum; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Studio Museum in Harlem; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond; and the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Adams earned a BFA from Pratt Institute, New York, in 1996 and a MFA from Columbia University, New York, in 2003. He has held numerous teaching positions and is currently a tenured assistant professor in the School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts at CUNY Brooklyn College. He was granted an honorary doctorate from Maryland Institute College of Art.

In 2022, Adams established Charm City Cultural Cultivation, a non-profit organization to support and encourage underserved communities in Baltimore.

Eric Bartley, Housing Works client, advocate, and board member, shared a personal narrative underscoring the purpose and goal of Bailey House.

“When I arrived in New York in 2006 I was homeless, but I found my way to Tyler house, right here in the East Village, on 9th Street,” Bartley said, referencing the proximity of the hotel, which has had multiple uses and served in 1940s as a flophouse for returning World War II soldiers, when the now-ritzy Bowery was known as “Skid Row.”

“I can say without hesitation that this organization is home for me. This is where I found community and the help I needed to become housing stable. From then on, I allowed myself to experience the joy of living a healthy and vibrant life. I began to volunteer for Housing Works. I wanted to help the community. They helped me and uplift others who needed the same help that I needed. I originally entered their job training program to become a full-time field organizer and peer advocate to be able to inspire others to activism. That has been a dream,” Bartley shared. “Through Housing Works, I learned how to advocate for myself, and now I’m able to fight for those who need our help the most for giving me this opportunity. I am forever grateful. The opportunity led me to being elected to the Housing Works Board of Directors five years ago. … I’ve learned even more about how to elevate my voice as an advocate. We make our voices loud in the streets for housing equality and access to equal health care. We plead for dignity and the right to be seen as members of the LGBTQ+ community. … I’m proud to be a black queer artist.”

Previous honorees include Mickalene Thomas, Nan Goldin, Nicole Eisenman, Whoopi Goldberg, Debbie Harry, The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, Cynthia Nixon, Catherine Opie, and Billy Porter.

This year’s Benefit Co-Chairs include: Kim Cullen, Agnes Gund, Holzer, Ronald Sosinski, Antwaun Sargent, Thomas, Jasmine Wahi, and Jaqueline Woodson, along with Benefit Committee Members: Dulcina Abreu, Daniel Baez, Rachel Cohen, Chloe Devine, Rob Fields, Adrianna Gautreaux, Micaela Giovonnotti, Gigi Grussing, Natalie Kates, Efrain Lopez, Nick McCarvel, McGivney, Kesha McLeod, Mia Moretti, Erica Newman, Andres Ouyela, Tariku Shiferaw, Sue Stoffel, Marty Preciado, Martina Scala, Alex Tieghi Walker, Hannah Traore, and Louis Venturelli.

The 2025 Art House benefit was sponsored by: The Richman Group, Hudson Inc.; Holzer and Erik Sumption; Agnes Gund; Reno & Cavanaugh PLLC; Broadway Builders; Penta Restoration, Betsy and Hunt Lawrence; and Back Home Cannabis Co.

Read about last year’s honoree and benefit:

Championing The Marginalized, Bailey House Honors Artist Mickalene Thomas And Her ‘Divine Orchestration’