Inside The Glass House’s 2025 Summer Party Honoring Designer Gaetano Pesce

On Saturday, June 14th, friends and supporters of The Glass House didn’t let the rain stop them from enjoying its annual summer party. This year, The Glass House paid a special tribute to the life of legendary designer Gaetano Pesce, who passed away last year.

Photo Credit: Courtesy

Taking place across the site’s iconic 49-acre landscape in New Canaan, Connecticut, the Max Mara-sponsored event celebrates the arts, architecture, and historical nature. “It is a very special occasion to come together and directly support the preservation and continued vitality of one of the most important works of Modernist architecture in the world,” says Executive Director, Kirsten Reoch. Sponsored by Max Mara with additional support from Design Within Reach and Land Rover Design, guests enjoyed a lovely afternoon of art from up-and-coming artists, sweet treats, exploring the grounds, and enjoying intricate performances amongst the lush grounds. 

Photo Credit: Courtesy

The Glass House honored the late designer Pesce with the debut of his limited-edition resin vase, Edizioni del Pesce, Big Surprise 2, created in collaboration with Meritalia®, which was inspired by the site’s two iconic Feltri chairs. This expressive piece embodies the spirit of functional art and features a custom Glass House stamp. The silent auction presented at the event was also online presented by Artsy, featuring an exciting array of artworks across all mediums, contemporary design objects, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and fine jewelry. Each bid served as a meaningful contribution to sustaining the future of The Glass House. 

Photo Credit: Courtesy

Sponsor Max Mara showcased a special activation with a life-sized art installation inspired by the Max Mara Whitney bag, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. With a structural modern design, the installation embodied the same architectural and industrial silhouette as The Glass House itself, providing a 360-degree photo moment during the event. A Max Mara Whitney Bag joined the auction while guests left with a complementary Max Mara Whitney tote bag co-branded and custom-made for The Glass House Summer Party. 

Photo Credit: Courtesy 

Throughout the day guests sipped on wines by Whispering Angel and Elouan, cocktails by Litchfield Distillery paired with cold-pressed juices by BARVIDA, and craft iced espresso beverages by Cafe Aroma Especial. While enjoying picnic baskets filled with a decadent lunch sitting amongst Design Within Reach’s comfortable and stylistic outdoor seating arrangements. Guests enjoyed two performances by Pilobolus, a group of dancers who unfolded across the landscape, complemented by whimsical, interactive elements that engaged viewers throughout the day. 

Photo Credit: Courtesy 

A key highlight of this year’s event was its main exhibition, Barbara Kasten: Structure, Light, Land – a compelling display installed across the campus and featured in prominent buildings, such as the Painting Gallery, Sculpture Gallery, and Brick House. Her work of photographs and sculptural installations explores abstraction, spatial perception, and the shifting relationships between material and form. 

The post Inside The Glass House’s 2025 Summer Party Honoring Designer Gaetano Pesce appeared first on Haute Living.