On November 22, Topical Cream gathered with our friends and supporters in SoHo to honor artist Lena Henke, recipient of the 2024 Topical Cream Prize. Henke, who has been a stalwart supporter of Topical Cream since its inception in 2013, is primarily a sculptor, creating works that come together in spatial constellations to explore the intersection of feminism, labor, and the urban environment.Since 2021, the Topical Cream Prize has been awarded annually to an artist whose efforts have made a meaningful impact on their community. We chose Henke for this year’s prize not only because of her longstanding support for Topical Cream, but for the commitment she has more recently shown to the New York Girls Writing Circle, an intensive summer program that provides art writing membership to girls and gender non-conforming youth.

In her speech congratulating Henke, our Executive Director Lyndsy Welgos praised the workshop Henke led for last summer’s cohort. Drawing on her own studio practice, which for years took place in an old warehouse adjacent to the BQE, Henke expanded and enriched the girls’ understanding of the way art might engage with the infrastructure of their hometown, New York City. Accepting the award, Henke waxed nostalgically about her memories of the early “underground” days of Topical Cream—she even reviewed our entire archive in advance of the award, she said. To support further iterations of the New York Girls Writing Circle, Henke and Bortolami Gallery graciously donated Spaziergang in Lemgo (2020), a glazed ceramic sculpture in which a snake appears to curl around a leaning column. Installed on a marble countertop and surrounded by candles and pink carnations, the sculpture was given pride of place at the SoHo soirée.

Jenny Stanjeski’s creative collective, House of Darker, served as the night’s art director. Inspired by the horse motifs in Henke’s practice, a tableau outfitted with red velvet, chainmail, tarot cards, and leather riding crops anchored the space, recalling the Winner’s Circle of a derby. As guests filtered in, they were treated to a full martini bar organized by House of Darker, as well as a wide selection of canapés catered by Topical Cream’s Deputy Editor, Elizabeth Wiet. Echoing the jewel-like hues found in the velvet-draped tableau, the spread included a sesame-crusted sausage wreath with pomegranate relish, beet and carrot fitters with a vibrant green zhoug sauce, and puff pastry vols-au-vent with caviar and sumac. Rose-garnished miniature crèmes brûlée, red velvet macarons, and sour cherry and pistachio tartlets served as dessert.

Notable guests included Stefania Bortolami, Claire Bergeal, Jessica Kwok, Paige K. Bradley Raque Ford, Agnieszka Kurant, Tobi Maier, Vanessa Gully Santiago, among many others.

Special Thanks:

Jenny Stanjeski 
Elizabeth Wiet