LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton, the 16-acre sculpture garden and nature reserve, presents an evening where art, nature, and community come alive on Saturday, June 27. Its summer benefit, Beautopia, will honor artist Sean Scully and philanthropist Bruce Horten.
Irish-born Sean Scully arrived in New York from London in 1975. It was in 1982, shortly after becoming a U.S. citizen, that a summer in Montauk sparked a shift in his work: a move from the rigid constraints of Minimalism toward a rich, emotional Abstraction. The reduced vocabulary of Minimalism was abandoned for a return to metaphor and spirituality, allowing nature and life to enter his work as a painter, printmaker, photographer, and sculptor, an embrace of the world that continues to this day.
For over two decades, Bruce Horten has known LongHouse Reserve as a place where art and nature meet in harmony. Together with his late spouse, Aaron Lieber, Bruce knew Jack Lenor Larsen. While they shared an appreciation for his textiles, sculpture has always been the highlight for Bruce at LongHouse. His admiration for Sean Scully began over three decades ago and grew into a friendship and a personal collection of Scully’s works in both his New York and East Hampton homes. For Bruce, art is deeply personal: “A matter of surrounding my walls with beloved memories of color, form, and depth.” Above all, East Hampton remains the place of his life shared with Aaron.
At the event, wander through the breathtaking gardens at the golden hour, sipping handcrafted cocktails, to the sounds of live music as the sun sets. Experience the annual art auction with works by Daniel Arsham, Liz Collins, Renée Cox, Alice Hope, Fitzhugh Karol, Laurie Lambrecht, Jill Platner, Kenny Schachter, Bastienne Schmidt, Sean Scully, Ai Weiwei, and more.