Derulo Does Dallas

two x two dallas — Derulo Does DallasKevin Tachman

On October 21, Dallas’s most notable art collectors and philanthropist mixed with New York fashion design darlings, dealers, artists, and supporters from around the country for the 24th annual TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art gala dinner and auction, raising $7.6 million to benefit the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and the Dallas Art Museum, with the generous sponsorship of Saks Fifth Avenue.

Event founders Cindy and Howard Rachofsky co-hosted the sold-out black-tie evening alongside Lisa and John Runyon at the Rachofsky House. Event designer Todd Fiscus of Todd Events took inspiration from the work of Columbian artist María Berrío—the recipient of amfAR’s 2023 Award of Excellence for Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS—and the colorful rainforests of her home country, transforming the 7,000-square-foot geodesic dome tent on the home’s expansive front lawn into a brilliant nature’s paradise complete with video-mapped projection of butterflies in migration.

At arrival, the 515 guests mingled and sipped their way through a cocktail wonderland that included a Tequila Casa Dragones lounge serving up “Cindy Margaritas,” named after Rachofsky and her favorite drink, a champagne bar courtesy of La Grande Dame, and Belvedere cocktails passed around a blue-lit Roche Bobois seating area. In from Mexico City, Casa Dragones co-founder Bertha González Nieves found herself sneaking behind the bar to steal away bottles of her new Reposado Mizunara to share with friends and tequila aficionados: it’s the first tequila rested casks made from Mizunara, a rare oak native to Japan.

Following the free-flowing beverage service, the well-dressed crowd made its way into the tent for dinner (including a mountain of Regiis Ova caviar as a decadent first course). During the evening’s program, the hosts thanked event supporters, and the Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art a t the Dallas Art Museum, Dr. Anna Katherine Brodbeck, along with amfAR co-chairs T. Ryan Greenawalt and Kevin McClatchy, presented Berrío with her award. As a prelude to the live auction, Jason Derulo took the stage to perform his hit songs like “Savage Love,” “Trumpet,” and “Whatcha Say,” before kicking off the fund-raising with a $100,000 personal donation. In total, 122 works of art were offered as part of both the silent and live auctions, as well as a luxury travel package from Tynan Travel and Micato Safaris. Conducted by auctioneer and Sotheby’s executive Michael Macaulay, the live auction included works by Berrío, Tom Anholt, Anish Kapoor, Calida Rawles, and Maja Ruznic.

Once bidder’s pockets were sufficiently emptied, everyone made their way to the after party in a tented lounge set atop the home’s back garden. Presented by Loewe—the brand's first Texas boutique set to open in Dallas’s posh Highland Park Village—guests enjoyed a raucous dance party fueled by yet another Casa Dragones bar serving up espresso martinis, and Pizzana pizzas from Chef Daniele Utidi. Additional support for the evening was provided by: Baker Tilly, Chubb, IMA Select, David and Emberli Pridham, and Headington Companies. Throughout its history, TWO x TWO has raised over $120 million in support of the Dallas Museum of Art’s contemporary art acquisitions and exhibitions and remains the largest fundraiser for amfAR in the United States.

Attendees included: Saks CEO Marc Metrick, Dallas Cowboys owners Gene and Jerry Jones, fashion designers Bach Mai, Prabal Gurung, Silvia Tcherassi, and Jason Wu, celebrity hairstylist Ceron, U Beauty founder Tina Chen Craig, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and his wife Porchla, Chef Thomas Keller and Laura Cunningham, Charlie and Moll Anderson, Todd and Kasey Lemkin, Kaleta Blaffer, Rochelle Gores, Dave and Leigh Anne Clark, Alexandra Looney, Meghan Looney, Brian Bolke and Faisal Halum, Cornelia Guest, Derek and Christen Wilson, Dirk and Jessica Nowitzki, Ken Fulk and Kurt Wootton, Cameron Silver, Nancy Nasher, Lisa Zabelle, Nancy Dedman, Sue Gragg, Georgina Hartland-Mackie, and Marguerite Hoffman.