Celebrating Creative Legends

Pratt Institute’s annual Legends gala and scholarship benefit celebrates the power of a creative education to inspire, open doors, and build futures. On October 29, Pratt hosted Legends 2025, which honored creative icons and served as a fundraiser for scholarships. The annual event is essential for the more than seventy-five percent of Pratt students who rely on financial aid to pursue their educational and creative ambitions.

This year’s Legends gala celebrated internationally renowned fashion designer Jeremy Scott, BFA Fashion Design ’95, and award-winning interior designer and mentor Mavis Wiggins, BFA Environmental Design ’75. The honorees, both alumni of Pratt, were recognized for the trailblazing work and illustrious careers that their Pratt education helped launch. Supermodel, producer, and Emmy-winning television personality Heidi Klum and Editor-in-Chief of Interior Design Magazine Cindy Allen introduced and presented the awards to the Legends 2025 honorees.      

For the second year in a row, Pratt hosted Legends at the elegant Manhattan venue Lavan Midtown, which buzzed with energy and excitement. Throughout the evening, immersive images and videos gave guests an inside look into Pratt’s state-of-the-art maker spaces—from ceramic studios and metalshops to 3D print labs and photography darkrooms. 

In her welcoming remarks, Pratt President Frances Bronet acknowledged this profound moment in the history of higher education and celebrated the incredible “creative ecosystem” of “thinkers, makers, dreamers called Pratt.” She praised the uniquely powerful combination of tenacity, curiosity, and character that make Pratt graduates successful employees, partners, neighbors, changemakers, and members of the community. “Every day, I’m surrounded by people who see the world not just as it is—but as it could be…” said President Bronet. “The future depends on creative thinkers, problem solvers—and those are exactly the people we propel at Pratt.” 

President Bronet also highlighted the critical role that scholarships play in enabling all students to thrive at Pratt and beyond. “Given our extraordinary ambition, we aim to make Pratt more accessible by providing resources that put a Pratt education within reach for a greater number of families and making our dynamic learning environment more inclusive, equitable, and continually focused on students’ success.” She added that “a Pratt education doesn’t just change lives—it creates lives of meaning, purpose, and influence. And scholarships make that possible.”

A Star-Studded Awards Ceremony

Heidi Klum took the stage in style to present the Legend Award to her friend, celebrated fashion designer and creative director Jeremy Scott, who Klum describes as “creativity personified.” In honor of the evening, Klum wore a striking pink and black outfit designed by Scott and inspired by Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus.

In his emotional acceptance speech, Scott first thanked his mother and sister for their dedicated and longstanding support. Scott told the story of his path to Pratt, including a pivotal interview with admissions. “I felt seen,” he said. “I was understood immediately.” In closing, he said, “I am in debt with gratitude to Pratt,” not just for a rigorous fashion education, but also for introducing him to his best friend, fierce advocate, and fellow alumnus Pablo Olea, BFA Painting ’96. “So, on behalf of Pablo and myself, I graciously thank you.” 

Following Scott, Cindy Allen introduced renowned interior designer Mavis Wiggins. Allen extolled Wiggins’s talents, recognizing her as a “pioneer who broke through gender and race barriers” and “a consummate role model for anyone seeking a career in the crafts” before presenting her with the Legend Award. In her acceptance speech, Wiggins described her experience arriving at Pratt in 1971. “I was apprehensive, but yet excited beyond belief,” she said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.” Wiggins went on to describe the variety of mediums and methods she was exposed to, the mentorship she received, and her professional experience post-graduation. She thanked her mentees who support her work now and closed by emphasizing the significance of collaboration and inclusion. “All of that makes your end product so much better, when you bring other people to the table and you listen to what they have to say,” she said.

Celebrating Pratt Past, Present, and Future

Board of Trustees Chair Gary Hattem ’75 introduced a video showcasing Pratt’s unique architectural history, advancements in sustainability, and world-class maker spaces, tools, and technology. “The sum of these parts defines Pratt not only as a unique place but as a manifestation of a belief that the best investment we can make is in the potential human capability to envision and create a more sustainable and equitable future,” said Hattem.

Student speaker Miles Albright, BFA Photography ’26, spoke about the supportive professors who have inspired him, encouraged him, and kept him grounded throughout his time at Pratt. He also discussed the financial challenges of supporting himself through college and the scholarships he has received that have made his continued creative practice possible. While he spoke, his photographs were projected on the walls, providing a glimpse of his exceptional work. Albright closed with a forward-looking note, saying, “I hope to keep the same drive and passion after my time here at Pratt and keep finding things to keep my light shining.”

With the power of Pratt education in mind, Eliza Hill Cuddy, an auctioneer at Sotheby’s, led a call to action to raise critical funds for student scholarships. 

About the Award

Each honoree was presented with a Legend Award—a bespoke porcelain and bronze sculpture  designed and fabricated by Huda Alkurdi, BID ’26, under the mentorship of Dana D’Amico, adjunct associate professor of industrial design. The form, said Alkurdi, was inspired by a mix of a bull’s horn to represent trailblazing and a shell to represent the understated beauty of nature. This year marks D’Amico’s fifth year as a faculty advisor for the project. The award ceremony was accompanied by a short video highlighting the thoughtful conceptual and technical process and collaboration that went into creating the award. 

Before guests spilled out into the glittering New York City night, President Bronet closed the evening by extending a sincere congratulations to the Legends honorees and thanking guests for their presence and their generosity. President Bronet commended the evening as “another step towards a more equitable and inclusive Pratt.”