New Dates for 2026 Edition: March 6–8, 2026

New Wave Art Wknd returns with three days of arts programming across West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Island celebrating the vibrancy of South Florida’s cultural community. Distinguished guests will join artists, curators, collectors, and arts professionals for a series of panel discussions, gallery hops, and collector visits — culminating in an exclusive benefit dinner. 

The weekend’s dynamic programming, held in partnership with GAVLAK, The Bunker Artspace, The Norton Museum of Art, and the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, among others, is the season’s premiere social art symposia and supports New Wave’s year-round Artist-in-Residence program. 

REGISTER FOR NWAW 2026

New Wave Art Wknd, NWAW
is our annual benefit that supports New Wave’s residencies throughout the year.

The weekend features robust public programming, extraordinary private collection visits, panel conversations, and curated events, NWAW showcases the flourishing contemporary art scene in South Florida and offers a platform to discuss issues in contemporary art and broader society, in a place where these conversations often need to happen most.

FOUNDER

SARAH
GAVLAK

In 2005, Sarah Gavlak opened a contemporary art gallery in West Palm Beach after recognizing a level of sophisticated collectors but a lack of galleries presenting emerging artists’ exhibitions. She founded her eponymous gallery with the goal of championing female and LGTBQ artists. Over the last 14 years, she has staged highly conceptual and pioneering exhibitions, which include early solo presentations by Marilyn Minter, Jose Alvarez, Betty Tompkins, Rob Wynne, Lisa Anne Auerbach, TJ Wilcox, Jessica Cannon and Robert Peterson.

In addition to founding non-profit New Wave Artist Residency, Sarah is a trustee of Art Center College of Design, a member of the New Museum’s Artemis Council, and an Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation Ambassador.

  • "We fly in artists who are then at lunch with the philanthropist or collector and are able to have conversations about difficult issues that might register in a different way,” Ms. Gavlak said….“Getting more diverse people engaged in the art community in Palm Beach is really the goal." 

    — Sarah Gavlak, New York Times

  • "The most exhilarating time at West Palm Beach was the New Wave Art Wknd! During that weekend, New Wave hosted artist talks, cocktail parties, and my open studio which gave me the chance to mingle with some familiar faces and some new ones! I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to connect with Beth DeWoody, who is already a collector of my work, and is always looking for ways to help me. For that, I will always be thankful."

    —Tiffany Alfonseca, Whitehot Magazine

  • “People just do not know how interesting and vibrant the scene is, and New Wave will get the word out. There is a real thriving, intellectual contemporary-art-collector base that is engaged in the greater art world, and the larger conversation about inclusivity—we have a lot more to offer than private clubs and beaches.”

    —Jane Holzer, Architectural Digest

  • "In [Sarah Gavlak's] interactions with the city in the past two decades, she has carved an artistic community that brings together creatives, collectors, and other players through her eponymous gallery, residency program, and programming open to all."

    —Colin Boyle, Document Journal

  • "The event has been designed to showcase the flourishing Palm Beach contemporary art scene and has become a favorite of the sophisticated modern art world. Patrons took part in a thought-provoking program that included curated panel discussions, gallery visits, open studios, and private collection tours."

    —Whitney Schott, Palmer