Art, Memory & Celebration: A Multifaceted Evening at the ACFNY
DECEMBER 1, | 5 PM (Doors)
Join us for a Book Release Celebration and our Seasonal Art Installation
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
We warmly invite audiences to an evening celebrating artistic creativity, cultural exchange, and community. On December 1, the Forum’s spaces will bring together the launch of two new publications and the celebration of Austrian artist Eva Petrič’s seasonal installation Totem for Humanity – Tree of Life.
5 PM | Exhibition Visits & Seasonal Installation | Main Gallery & Vestibule
Visitors are invited to explore the ACFNY’s current exhibition, Erwin Wurm: Chamber Play with Jackson Pollock and Samuel Beckett, curated by Dr. Stephanie Buhmann and Dr. Gerald Matt. In the Forum’s vestibule, guests can also encounter Austrian artist Eva Petrič‘s seasonal installation Totem for Humanity – Tree of Life, a work celebrating humanity, connection, and togetherness. Commissioned by the ACFNY in 2024, this luminous, lace-formed work transforms the building’s vestibule into a symbolic space of unity and reflection. Installed annually in the beginning of December, Totem for Humanity marks the beginning of the holiday season in New York, reminding us of the interwoven threads that connect humanity across cultures and time.
5:15 PM | Welcome Remarks | Main Gallery
The evening officially opens with welcome remarks by Dr. Susanne Keppler-Schlesinger, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum New York.
5:30 – 6:30 PM | Reception & Book Celebration
Join us celebrating the release of two new publications from Berlin-based publisher Green Box, highlighting the work and artistic contributions of Austrian women:
Inspiration Comes from Everyday Life: Elfie Semotan and Nina Hollein (November 2026) celebrates the creative perspectives of photographer Elfie Semotan and designer Nina Hollein. The accompanying exhibition was on display at the Forum from May to September 2024.
Vally Wieselthier: Sculpting Modernism (2026) pays tribute to pioneering Austrian ceramicist Vally Wieselthier and her contribution to modernist art and design. The accompanying exhibition was on display at the Forum from October 2025 to February 2026.
