The Faena Art Gala was nothing short of incredible.
Faena Art, the international nonprofit committed to pushing the boundaries of contemporary art, hosted its highly anticipated fifth annual Gala on Tuesday, April 29. Under the luminous Miami sky, Alan and Grace Faena welcomed guests to an opulent poolside soirée at Faena Miami Beach, where art, fashion, and culinary excellence converged in an exuberant evening to remember. This year’s theme, Follow Your Rainbow, set the tone for a technicolor celebration of joy, collaborative design, and artistic expression—with acclaimed artist Joel Mesler at the heart of the festivities. Known for his vibrant, text-based paintings that weave pop culture, nostalgia, and playful motifs, Mesler unveiled a sitespecific installation that took guests on a journey through identity, self-reflection, and humor. Adding to the gala’s visual spectacle, Faena Art presented an exclusive collaboration between Mesler and Hedley Studios, the artisans behind handcrafted, precisionscale, drivable models of the world’s most iconic luxury cars. Three of their masterpieces—the Bugatti Baby II, Ferrari Testa Rossa J, and Aston Martin DB5J—were displayed around the pool atop rainbow plinths designed by Mesler himself.
Guests entered the evening by passing through a radiant rainbow archway and following a kaleidoscopic path into a multi-sensory experience. Instead of a traditional seated dinner, the evening unfolded as a culinary procession. It began with a masterful bluefin tuna carving by Chef Paul Qui, whose signature style blends Filipino heritage with Japanese, Spanish, and French influences. This was followed by towers of grilled meats and fire-roasted vegetables prepared by legendary Argentine chef Francis Mallmann, celebrated for his open-flame Asado-style cooking. Throughout the night, music, fashion, and performance art brought Mesler’s vivid aesthetic to life, culminating in a special live set by Faena’s music director, DJ Richie Hell and the one and only Rocky Lanes. In celebration of the evening’s theme, guests embraced a rainbow-inspired dress code, with one standout attendee (the artist Francisca Oyhanarte) receiving Faena Art’s Best Dressed Award—an honor accompanied by a luxurious twonight stay at the Faena Penthouse. Beyond the fête, the Gala stayed true to its mission: to support and uplift the artistic community by raising essential funds for Faena Art’s free and open-to-the-public programming. These initiatives include backing emerging artists, commissioning cutting-edge sitespecific works at the Faena Art Project Room, and awarding the prestigious Faena Prize for the Arts—supporting interdisciplinary experimentation at the crossroads of art, technology, and design. By blending bold creativity with a deep commitment to cultural enrichment, the Faena Art Gala once again reaffirmed its role in shaping Miami’s artistic landscape and fostering a global community grounded in innovation and expression. The Faena Art Fundraising Gala was brought to life thanks to the generous support of Casa Dragones, Perrier-Joüet, and Hedley Studios, with special thanks to Shibui, Fever-Tree, and Maison Perrier.
Drivable Art
On the storied grounds of Bicester Heritage in Oxfordshire UK, artisans at Hedley Studios are hand building masterpieces that are equal parts automotive nostalgia, engineering marvel, and collectible art.
Each Hedley creation— produced at 66-85% scale of the original—is a functional work of art that pays homage to automotive legends while embracing zeroemission technology. “These are unique art pieces that also happen to be drivable,” explained founder and CEO Ben Hedley, whose journey to creating drivable art began with a childhood gift of a model Porsche 911. Through unique, collaborative partnerships with automotive royalty including Ferrari, Bugatti, Bentley, and Aston Martin, Hedley Studios has earned the unique distinction of creating officially licensed, numbered & signed pieces that bridge automotive heritage with contemporary craftsmanship. Each museum-quality Hedley bears an official chassis plate from the original manufacturer and the signature of the artisan who created it. The brand’s limited-edition models include the Ferrari Testa Rossa J, a 75% scale reinterpretation of the iconic 1957 pontoon-fendered 250 Testa Rossa race car. Equally remarkable is the Aston Martin DB5 J, a 66% scale rendition of the iconic 1963 DB5 Cabriolet, famously driven by James Bond. The model that launched Hedley is the Bugatti Baby II, a masterfully crafted 75% scale reimagining of the 1924 Bugatti Type 35, adorned with a solid silver Bugatti Macaron. Hedley’s latest model, the Bentley Blower Jnr, is an 85% scale rendition of the iconic 1929 Bentley Blower. Hedley plans to announce several new automakers in the coming months. The clientele for these precision-scaled marvels spans car connoisseurs and art collectors alike. While fully functional with multiple driving modes, many Hedley collectors opt to display them as centerpieces in their homes—one even graces the living room of a Manhattan penthouse. Others serve as trophy pieces in private collections alongside fullsized automotive icons. Discover more at hedleystudios.com.
