A true cultural icon, Misty Copeland made history in 2015 as the first African American female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. She has performed some of the most iconic classical ballet roles, including Odette/Odile in Swan Lake; Juliet in Romeo & Juliet; Giselle; Manon; Coppelia; Kitri in Don Quixote; and Firebird, one of her most important roles. Misty is the perfect complement to the McNay’s spring banner exhibition Womanish: Audacious, Courageous, Willful Art, that showcases more than 70 female artists in the Museum’s permanent collection.

A budding art collector of African American Art, Misty has works in her collection by Ndidi Emefiele, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Lorna Simpson, and Deborah Roberts, who is also in the McNay’s collection. Copeland is an avid philanthropist and an ambassador for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, of which she is also an alum. In 2022, she launched The Misty Copeland Foundation, with its first signature program BE BOLD, which aims to bring greater diversity, equity, and inclusion to dance, especially ballet. Misty is the New York Times bestselling author of Life in Motion, Ballerina Body, Black Ballerinas, and a picture book titled Bunheads. She is also author of the award-winning children’s picture book, Firebird. In 2022, she published The Wind at my Back, a tribute to her late mentor and friend, pioneering ballerina Raven Wilkinson. With limited seating, the event is a sure sell-out, and you don’t want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime moment!

All proceeds from the Luncheon benefit the McNay Art Museum’s mission to engage a diverse audience in the discovery and enjoyment of the visual arts. Sponsorship, underwriting and ticket purchases support education, exhibition, and conservation programs. Thank you to the Luncheon Title Sponsor: The Bennett Prize. Major funding for the keynote speaker provided by the Louis A & Frances B Wagner endowment. Underwriting support generously provided by the John R. and Greli N. Charitable Trust, Frost Bank, Trustee.

Special thank you to the Luncheon Chair Cece Frost Griffin, and the committee Carla Brozovich, Amelita Mauze, Sarah Moore, Emilie Petty, and Corinna Richter.

This event is now full.