Back in person for a night to remember and coinciding with Pratt Institute’s 135th anniversary, Legends 2022 will honor three creative icons who have shaped the cultural landscape. On Tuesday, November 15, at Weylin—a stunning venue housed in a historic domed bank in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn—the annual scholarship benefit will recognize designer Arem Duplessis, architect Phyllis Lambert, and artist Mickalene Thomas for their embodiment of the creativity, innovation, and leadership that have been fostered at Pratt since its founding in 1887. The proceeds from Legends benefit student scholarships that support diversity.
The awardees will be celebrated for their distinguished accomplishments. Arem Duplessis is an alumnus of Pratt and creative director at Apple and was previously design director of The New York Times Magazine where he received an Emmy for the short film series Touch of Evil. He is an AIGA Medal recipient and co-created the popular GQ Gotham typeface for the redesign of GQ Magazine.
Phyllis Lambert is an architect, photographer, author, scholar, curator, conservationist, activist, and critic of architecture and urbanism. As the founder of the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA), she has led the forging of a new discourse around the field through the pioneering research center and museum.
Mickalene Thomas is a Pratt alumna who has exhibited her paintings, collages, photography, video, and installations at the Museum of Modern Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, and other leading art institutions. Involving imagery from pop culture and art history, she confronts assumptions about portraiture and the feminine. She also co-founded Pratt>FORWARD—a mentorship program with Pratt Institute that connects emerging artists with creative thought-leaders and practitioners within the art market.
This year’s Legends will join the illustrious ranks of previous honorees who have made significant contributions to art, design, and architecture and demonstrated that these fields can bring about positive change in the world. All contributions to Legends advance the success of Pratt students as a continuation of the Institute’s legacy of academic excellence through scholarship support.
The gala begins at 6 PM with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony at 7 PM. Visit Legends 2022 to learn more, to purchase tickets, or to make a donation.