On September 20, chart-topping musician, drag queen superstar, and beloved icon Trixie Mattel will headline Avant Garden, the Walker Art Center’s annual fundraising gala. Tickets start at $150 and are available now for the late-night party that supports the museum’s award-winning artistic and community programs.
This year’s gala centers on the theme of “play”—bringing together bold art, community, and the freedom to find joy. The night will begin in the galleries with dinner and the Walker’s celebrated art auction; followed by a party that spills into a tent on the hillside, including drinks, dancing, and photo-ready moments; and a high-glam, high-energy DJ set from Trixie Mattel as the grand finale.
Avant Garden 2025
Sat, Sep 20, 5 pm
Walker Art Center
TICKETS
Platinum Table ($25,000) Package for 10 guests
Cocktail reception, gourmet full-service dinner at a seated table with premier placement in the Walker galleries, silent art auction, and live program. Dinner entry begins at 5 pm. Includes admission to the Party.
Gold Table ($20,000) Package for 10 guests
All of the above, with preferred placement.
Silver Table ($15,000) Package for 10 guests
All of the above, with general placement.
Dinner Ticket* ($1,500) for one guest
All of the above, with open seating.
*not yet available for purchase
Party Ticket ($150)
Enjoy the legendary late-night party experience featuring Trixie Mattel, photo ops, a drink ticket, and a selection of late-night cocktail snacks. The After Party begins at 8:30 pm.
Elevate Your Late-Night ($6,000)
Add to any experience: Reserved lounge and complimentary drinks near the dance floor (opens at 8:30 pm and seats up to 10 ticket holders).
AVANT GARDEN 2025 HOST COMMITTEE
EVENT CO-CHAIRS
Ana Haqq
John Higgins
AUCTION CO-CHAIRS
Molly Rand
Dean Salita
BIPOC ARTIST FUND CO-CHAIRS
Gabrielle Grier
Natalie Morrow
SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE
Ellie Anderson
Chris Haqq
William Lively
Aaron Mack
Sean Reilly
Jeff Sunberg
TABLE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Muffy MacMillan
TABLE COMMITTEE
Ellie Anderson
Tara Dev
Christopher Hermann
PARTY TICKET COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS
Kerry Ciardelli-Chevalier
Jahna Peloquin
PARTY TICKET COMMITEE
Jennifer Berg
Susan Blaska Lindahl
Christopheraaron Deanes
Davee Ek
Leslie Firkins
Maddy Higgins
Bobbi Jo Lamar Brunson
Bryan Lee
Camille Metty
Richard Moody
Adair Mosley
Shayla Owodunni
Jeffery Perkey
Bryan Pieper
Kathy Reilly
Becky Salita
Patrick Shelton
Gayle Smaller, Jr.
Robert Spikings
Nicole Sunberg
Sarah Lee Winstead
Sade Young
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Trixie Mattel is an American singer, actor, drag queen and recognized “Skinny Legend.” Trixie is the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 3 (originally competing on season 7). She is also a Billboard Heatseekers #1 charting recording artist (One Stone, 2018), a wildly successful touring act, and one half of a comic duo with Katya on YouTube (UNHhhh & Netflix’s I Like To Watch). In 2019, Trixie worked the festival circuit as the subject of a bio documentary, “Trixie Mattel: Moving Parts,” debuted her cosmetics company Trixie Cosmetics, and released her “Skinny Legend” comedy special. She also released a New York Times best-selling book with Katya called “Trixie and Katya’s Guide to Modern Womanhood” and also started a podcast with Katya called The Bald And The Beautiful.
ABOUT THE WALKER ART CENTER
Known for presenting today’s most compelling artists from close to home and around the world, the Walker Art Center features a broad array of contemporary visual arts, music, dance, theater, and moving image works. Ranging from concerts and films to exhibitions and workshops, Walker programs bring us together to examine the questions that shape and inspire us as individuals, cultures, and communities. The adjacent Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, one of the first urban sculpture parks of its kind in the United States, holds at its center the beloved Twin Cities landmark Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen as well as some 60 sculptures. Visit walkerart.org for more information on upcoming events and programs.