Plush Dallas Mansion Hosts the City’s Biggest Art Party, But an Out-of-Town Twist Steals the Show Amid Ricky Martin and a $1 Million Buy

TWO x TWO FOR AIDS and Art is a tradition Dallas knows well: For one Saturday eve in October, the Rachofsky House –– the Richard Meier-designed cube of a manse, belonging to hosts and TWO x TWO founders Cindy and Howard Rachofsky –– gets all dolled up for what the Rachofskys lovingly call a family affair.

But rather than blood, attendees are bound by their long-time patronage of the event and its stalwart efforts to fuel the Dallas Museum of Art’s contemporary acquisitions fund and support amfAR’s Countdown to a Cure research initiative to find a broadly applicable cure for HIV by 2020. The family includes TWO x TWO director Melissa Ireland and past chairs Christen and Derek Wilson, Lisa and John Runyon, Joyce Goss, Gary Tigges, John Benjamin Hickey, and more. They’re quite the force, having raised more than $67 million in 17 years.

This year felt different, however, despite the Gala’s usual trappings (Dom Pérignon, caviar, and truffles for 500; a geodesic dome tent decorated by Todd Fiscus to resemble a Harry Winston diamond, a top sponsor; and millions of dollars’ worth of contemporary art for auction). A considerable number of out-of-towners attended, including Harry Winston VP of marketing Federica Boido; French Laundry chef Thomas Keller; fashion designers Rosie Assoulin, Prabal Gurung, and Natasha Zinko; actors Zoe Saldana and Teddy and Milissa Sears; and Lord Harry Scrymgeour.

The Dallas Museum of Art presented its newest face, director Agustín Arteaga. And Nancy Rogers boldly did something never before done in TWO x TWO history: she chaired the Gala for the second year in a row. She summed up the magic of the evening when she took the stage: “Harry Winston said, ‘People will stare. Make it worth their while.’ Well, Harry we’ve got you covered.”

Of course, TWO x TWO is all about the art. Following a spicy performance by Ricky Martin, Howard Rachofsky and longtime TWO x TWO auctioneer Jaime Niven took their places in the spotlight. Niven upped the ante with his usual wit (“To the man with no socks for $750,000!” he boomed after one sale). And Howard spotted bids, encouraging friends to raise their paddles.

TWO x TWO’S honored artist, Laura Owens, stole the show when her work, Untitled, 2016, was sold for more than $1 million. We hear it went to fanciest lady in attendance.