Halloween Member Night: Music and Mayhem

Throughout the Whitney

For All Members

Celebrate Halloween—and a stellar lineup of fall exhibitions—at this genre-spanning Member Night inspired by the musical influences in the work of Henry Taylor and Harry Smith. Bring on the legendary looks with a costume inspired by your favorite music icon, explore the museum after dark with exclusive gallery access and mini tours, watch works of art come to life on festive pumpkins, or create your own artwork. Festive attire and artful costumes are encouraged. 

Henry Taylor: B Side, named after the secondary recording on the flip side of a record, showcases how Taylor’s work has left an indelible mark on contemporary art, music, and fashion by capturing everything from scenes of family and friends to the streets of Los Angeles and cultural icons. And in Fragments of a Faith Forgotten, explore the life and work of a renegade musicologist. Over the course of fifty years, Smith made innovative use of changing recording technologies, and his Anthology of American Folk Music laid the groundwork for the popularization of folk music in the 1960s.

Whitney Members can attend this special edition of Member Night for free with their Membership card. The invitation is for two individuals per Membership household. Additional individual tickets are available for purchase.

Exhibitions
Enjoy after-hours access to all galleries and mini tours throughout the evening. 

Ilana Savdie: Radical Contractions
Floor 1

Trust Me
Floor 3

Henry Taylor: B Side and Fragments of a Faith Forgotten: The Art of Harry Smith
Floor 5

Inheritance
Floor 6

The Whitney’s Collection: Selections from 1900 to 1965
Floor 7

Ruth Asawa Through Line
Floor 8

Drawing the Music
Floor 3, Hearst Artspace
Join Teaching Artist Jaqueline Cedar for a drop-in drawing workshop in response to music you’ll hear in the space. Inspired by Harry Smith’s jazz paintings on view in Fragments of a Faith Forgotten, let your ears guide you as you create a collaborative work of art with fellow Members.

Rhythm of the Night
Floor 3, Hess Family Theater
Enjoy a live jazz trio with vocal and instrumental performances that are just to die for!

Lights Up Photo Booth
Floor 3, Hess Family Theater
Take the stage by storm at our free photo booth. Step into the spotlight as your favorite music icon or share the stage with friends as you capture digital photos and GIFs.

Maniac Pumpkin Carvers
Floor 1
Expert pumpkin carvers bring Archibald John Motley Jr’s Gettin’ Religion from the Whitney’s collection to life. Experience a live demo of this music-inspired addition to our Halloween at the Whitney pumpkins.

DJ Set by Hesta Prynn
Floor 1
DJ Hesta Prynn plays hits (and deep cuts) from across the decades. 

Temporary Tattoos
Floor 1
Get your spook on with a temporary tattoo—apply right away or take one to go!

Whitney Shop
Floor 1
Browse the shop for the latest exhibition publications and collectibles—including limited edition Halloween tote bags and T-shirts for kids. Members always save!

Just Treats, No Tricks
Floors 1 & 3
Enjoy wine, beer, and cocktails for purchase across two pop-up bars.

Halloween Weekend at the Whitney is an inclusive and safe celebration for all. In that spirit, we do not allow costumes that perpetuate cultural appropriation, discrimination, or violence of any kind, including fake weapons. We invite you to be inspired by the works in our collection and check out the #IAmNotACostume campaign to learn more about choosing a respectful costume. 

See all Halloween events.