The American Ingenuity award was designed by artist Jeff Koons. Photograph by Carol Ross Joynt.
Smithsonian magazine editor in chief Michael Caruso invoked “cutting-edge” President Abraham Lincoln in his welcome speech. Photograph by Carol Ross Joynt.
Sculptor Jeff Koons was a presenter but he was also called out for his “Balloon Dog” piece, which sold at auction last week for a record $58.4 million. Photograph by Carol Ross Joynt.
Artist Doug Aitken asked everyone at the dinner to turn around and pose a question to their nearest neighbor. Photograph by Carol Ross Joynt.
Honoree St. Vincent also provided the evening’s only musical performance, playing tunes from her new album, on which she collaborated with David Byrne.
Photograph by Carol Ross Joynt.
“Really exciting,” is how David Bryne, on the right, described the evening. Here he is with American Ingenuity Award winner Saumil Bandyopadhyay, a freshman at MIT. Photograph by Carol Ross Joynt.
American Ingenuity Award winner Caroline Hoxby, presenter and Nobel laureate Mario Livio, David Bryne, and honoree Adam Steltzner, who helped the Curiosity rover land successfully on Mars. Photograph by Carol Ross Joynt.
The evening’s hosts, emcee Ari Shapiro of NPR and Smithsonian magazine editor in chief Michael Caruso. Photograph by Carol Ross Joynt.
