Fresh off his exhibition of hurtling-through-the-cosmos paintings at Acquavella, James Rosenquist will be honored with the Isabella and Theodor Dalenson Lifetime Achievement Award at this evening’s National Arts Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. Hosted by Americans for the Arts, the bash will also honor Paul G. Allen (Eli and Edythe Broad Award for Philanthropy in the Arts), author, filmmaker, and co-founder of YoungArts and the Presidential Scholars in the Arts Program Lin Arison (Arts Education Award), actor Brian Stokes Mitchell (Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts), and singer Josh Groban (Bell Family Foundation Young Artist Award). Bestowing the golden balloon bunny statuettes designed by Jeff Koons will be presenters including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Agnes Gund, and Richard Serra (coincidentally, this is also the group of people we’d most like to be stuck in an elevator with!). Gala guests can pose for Polaroids by visual whiz Todd Eberle and admire the work of Julie Mehretu, the evening’s featured visual artist.

Pictured: James Rosenquist’s “The Multiverse You Are, I Am” (2012) © James Rosenquist