Lavish Gowns & Kaftans Bring Beautiful Hearts Together at the 2015 Arts of the Islamic World Gala

January 20, 2015, Friday evening, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, welcomed more than 420 guests for the biennial Arts of the Islamic World Gala. The aura and elegance of the gala was evident with a powerhouse of underwriters and an Executive Committee served as the hosts of the black-tie event, which took place in Cullinan Hall. The tables were set with floral arrangements of kumquats and roses in vibrant orange hues. The dining area was transformed with views of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain which were projected onto the walls of Cullinan Hall, creating a festive setting for dining guests.

A record breaking of $720,719 was raised during this year’s Gala, through ticket sales, donations, and the acquisition of art.

A four-course seated dinner, accompanied by a selection of three wine pairings, was catered by City Kitchen. Entertainment during the dinner was provided by special performances from Fanny Ara and Manuel Gutierrez. Following dinner, guests danced the night away to the sounds of DJ Hector and an electronic violinist.

Diana Untermeye Lynn Wyatt Chase Untermeyer Photo by Wilson Parish

This year’s Arts of the Islamic World Gala marked the private opening of two important installations of Islamic art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: an expanded installation of Arts of Islamic Lands: Selections from The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait, and the re-installation of two galleries dedicated to the Arts of the Islamic World with objects from the Museum’s permanent collection and local collectors.

It was a star studded gala with Houston’s very own glamorous guests, fashion icons, art lovers, and philanthropists including: Lynn Wyatt, Jaleh and Bruce Sallee, Rania Daniel, Nijad and Zeina Fares, Nancy and Rich Kinder, Franci Neely, Sabiha and Omar Rehmatulla, Pete and Lynn Coneway, Sima and Masoud Ladjevardian, Barbara and Michael Gamson, His Highness the Aga Khan Shia Ismaili Community of Houston, Moez and Sultana Mangalji, Mithoff Family Foundation / Melissa and Michael Mithoff, Laurie and Reed Morian, Aliyya Stude, Alma Kombargi, Diane Lokey Farb, Monsour Taghdisi and Henry Richardson; Becca Cason and John Thrash, Nidhika and Pershant Mehta, Mehrnaz and Ned Gill, Cathy and Vahid Kooros; Catherine and Dr. Cenk Ozdogan; Mey and Wissam Al Monthiry; Jennifer and Matt Esfahani, Joy and Benjamin Warren, Mr. and Mrs. Dari Ansari, Mr. and Mrs. Jafar Davoody, Mr. and Mrs. Ali Ebrahimi, Mr. and Mrs. Louis K. Adler, H.E. Sheikha Hussah al-Sabah, Neelofur and Sami Ahmad, Lynn and Peter Coneway, Highland Village, and Sima and Masoud Ladjevardian.

PHOTO CREDITS Jenny Antill and Wilson Parish