{"id":267314,"date":"2025-10-25T12:30:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T01:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.russh.com\/?p=267314"},"modified":"2025-10-25T12:26:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T01:26:11","slug":"mca-artists-ball-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.russh.com\/mca-artists-ball-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"‘RUSSH’ Purist Miah Madden takes us inside the 2025 MCA Artist’s Ball"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s something electric about an evening that fuses fashion, art and philanthropy \u2013 and this October, the MCA Artists Ball proved once again why it has become a fixture on Sydney\u2019s cultural calendar.<\/p>\n

Now in its third year, more than 250 artists, designers and admirers of the avant-garde gathered at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia under the dress code of \u2018Creative Couture.\u2019 And true to form, the crowd didn\u2019t just arrive dressed \u2013 they arrived transformed.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s ball paid tribute to RUSSH<\/em> creative mind Daniel Boyd, whose work has long reimagined Australia\u2019s colonial narratives through the lens of his Gudjal, Ghungalu, Kuku Yalanji, Wangerriburra, Jagera, Bundjalung and Ni-Vanuatuan heritage. Boyd \u2013 who also fronted our RUSSH Home<\/em> cover \u2013 welcomed guests into his world through a mirrored passageway, his monumental 2014 wall work Untitled setting the tone for the night inside Foundation Hall.<\/p>\n

The evening opened with a moving Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Tim Bishop and Matthew Doyle, followed by a dance piece from Beau Dean Riley Smith. From there, the MCA was transformed into a lush rainforest, curated by Alex Berlage, while chef James Scott of The Big Group delivered dishes that felt more like edible artworks than dinner. Artist Tony Albert emceed with flair, Thelma Plum and Mo\u2019Ju took to the stage, and the auction floor buzzed with works by Albert, Boyd, Isaac Julien, Julie Mehretu, Alex Seton and Gemma Smith.<\/p>\n

Of course, the guest list was a tapestry of the city\u2019s creative heavyweights: Del Kathryn Barton, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Nell, Akira Isogawa, Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett of Romance Was Born, Penelope Seidler, Jordan Gogos, Brooke Boney, Amber Keating and more. Together, their presence underscored the night\u2019s purpose: raising over $1.5 million to ensure MCA Australia continues its vital role in supporting contemporary voices.<\/p>\n

As MCA Director Suzanne Cotter shared, \u201cSupporting and celebrating living Australian artists at all stages of their careers is a vital part of MCA Australia’s DNA.\u201d A sentiment echoed by MCA Chair Lorraine Tarabay, who reflected on the transformative impact of the ball since its inception in 2023.<\/p>\n

On the night, RUSSH<\/em> was represented by Purist Miah Madden \u2013 a fly on the wall with the best seat in the house. Below, she shares some of her favourite moments from an evening where art, fashion and community collided in the most unforgettable way.<\/p>\n

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