Kate Shin and Sophie Matisse in conversation. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.
Kate Shin and Sophie Matisse in conversation at the Mark Cross flagship. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

The worlds of art and fashion collided on Wednesday night at Mark Cross’s beautiful new flagship on Madison Avenue, where a crowd of New Yorkers gathered to celebrate the culmination of Artnet and Mark Cross’s “From One Woman to Another” interview series.

The project, which was published by Artnet News this fall, spotlighted the stories of five eminent art-world women who are leading the way in their respective fields.

Each interviewee was tasked with selecting a mentor or protégée to participate in a guided conversation about the rewards and challenges of working in the art industry, the most prescient issues of the day, and the importance of mentorship.

Given Mark Cross’s historic ties to the art world through the Murphy family—which cultivated ties with such 20th-century luminaries as Pablo Picasso, Man Ray, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald—the partnership with Artnet was a natural fit from the start. 

With the help of creative director David Lipman, who photographed each interviewee in her element, the series presented candid conversations and a rare glimpse into the real lives of some of the art world’s greatest female power players, all of whom underscored that women must champion one another to pave the way for a more equitable future.

Before the event, the Mark Cross flagship was decorated with holiday flora, which was woven throughout artful design installations for handbags. Some of the decorations even adorned papier-mâché display models crafted by Danish sculptor Alberte Skronski.

Guests sipped champagne while taking in enlarged editions of Lipman’s portraits of the interviewees. After an opening reception, the panel was introduced by Mark Cross’s President and CEO, Ulrik Garde Due, who thanked everyone for attending the event and shared the story of Mark Cross’s art-filled history.

The discussion, moderated by Artnet’s Noor Brara, featured three of the series’ interviewees—Sukanya Rajaratnam of Mnuchin Gallery; Kate Shin of the Waterfall Mansion and Gallery; and painter Sophie Matisse of the esteemed Matisse family—along with Jessica Porter of ArtTable, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the careers of women in the arts. In honor of the partnership, a portion of the proceeds from Mark Cross sales will be donated to ArtTable to support its mission.

See photos from the evening below.

Portraits by David Lipman from Artnet and Mark Cross’s “From One Woman to Another” series, installed at the Mark Cross flagship on Madison Avenue. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Portraits by David Lipman from Artnet and Mark Cross’s “From One Woman to Another” series, installed at the Mark Cross flagship on Madison Avenue. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Inside the Mark Cross flagship on Madison Avenue. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Mark Cross handbags on display at the Madison Avenue flagship. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

A Mark Cross bag filled with flowers. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

The bar setup at the event, where guests sipped champagne. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

BJ Topol, Sukanya Rajaratnam, and Dorian May. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Jeannie Weissglass and Christine Lombard. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Eva Ikonomakos, Natasha Schlesinger, and Suzanne Siano. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Christine Lombard, Sophie Matisse, an adorable little rascal, and Ulrik Garde Due. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Jeremy Blume and Rachel Brown. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Jonquil Schaller and Imogen Fairbairn. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Bastienne Schmidt, Susan Hayden, and Toni Ross. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Dwight Jacobsen, Debbie Moon, David Lipman, Kate Shin, and Tina Lipman. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Victoria Fuller, David Lipman, Ulrik Garde Due, and Gary Fuhrman. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

The panelists: Noor Brara, Jessica Porter, Sukanya Rajaratnam, Kate Shin, and Sophie Matisse. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Ulrik Garde Due giving the opening remarks before the panel discussion. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Noor Brara, Jessica Porter, and Sukanya Rajaratnam. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.

Guests mingling after the panel. Image courtesy Artnet and Mark Cross.