DJ Skee Headlines Avant Garden 2026 at the Walker Art Center
Tickets on Sale Now!
Minneapolis, June 29, 2026— On Saturday, September 19, DJ, producer, and St. Paul’s own DJ Skee will headline Avant Garden, the Walker Art Center’s annual benefit. Inspired equally by rave culture and haute couture, this year’s Avant Garden upends expectations for a gala while raising essential funds for the Walker’s award-winning artistic and educational programming.
The evening begins with a glamorous gala dinner in the Walker galleries and a spirited auction and fund-a-need, followed by the Party, where guests will descend into a rave-inspired dance hall for drinks, dancing, and a high-energy headline set from DJ Skee. This year’s party is literally an underground event as the parking ramp adjacent to the Walker will be transformed into the cities’ hottest dance party.
DJ Skee has built a genre-defying career across music, sports, entertainment, and technology, working with collaborators as varied as Kendrick Lamar, the Minnesota Vikings, and Google. A hometown force with national reach, Skee has also been honored in St. Paul with an official “DJ Skee Day.” The Walker is thrilled to host this homecoming performance as part of an evening designed to look and feel unlike any benefit before it.
Avant Garden 2025. Photo: Carina Lofgren.
TICKETS
Party Ticket ($150) For one guest
Enjoy an underground, late-night experience featuring photo ops, a drink ticket, and a selection of cocktail snacks. The party begins at 8:30 pm.
Platinum Table ($25,000) Package for 10 guests
Cocktail reception, gourmet full-service dinner at a seated table with premier placement in the Walker galleries, silent art auction, and live program. Entry begins at 5 pm. Includes admission to the Party.
Gold Table ($20,000) Package for 10 guests
All of the above, with preferred placement.
Silver Table ($15,000) Package for 10 guests
All of the above, with general placement.
Elevate Your Late-Night ($7,500)
Add to any experience: Reserved lounge and unlimited drinks near the dance floor (opens at 8:30 pm and seats up to 10 ticket holders).
AVANT GARDEN 2026 CO-CHAIRS
Peter Lindahl
Susan Blaska Lindahl
AUCTION CHAIR
Molly Pfohl Rand – Art
Dean Salita – Experiences
BIPOC ARTIST FUND COMMITTEE
Gabriel Grier
Taylor Jasper
Megan Leafblad
Natalie Morrow
Gayle Smaller Jr.
SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE
Ellie Anderson
Aaron Mack
Sean Reilly
TABLE COMMITTEE
Tara Dev
Jansel Hutton Kelly
Ana Haqq
Kathie Cafesjian Baradaran
PARTY TICKET COMMITTEE CHAIR
Bryan Pieper
Sarah Lee Winstead
PARTY TICKET COMMITTEE
Heidi Ault
Corrie Beitler
Jennifer Berg
Natalie Burns
Kerry Ciardelli-Chevalier
Nyajouk Deng
Davee Ek
Leslie Firkins
Ashley Wong Grossman
Bryan Lee
Susan Leppke
Marc Lundeen
Camille Metty
Richard Moody
Adair Mosley
Jahna Peloquin
Jeffery Perkey
Jessica Prudden
Kathy Reilly
Connor Remes
Patrick Shelton
Gayle Smaller Jr.
Robert Spikings
Nicole Sunberg
Alexis Walsko
Sade Young
ACCESSIBILITY
For more information about accessibility, visit our accessibility page. For questions on accessibility or to request additional accommodations, call 612-375-7564 or email access@walkerart.org.
About DJ Skee
DJ Skee has built a genre-defying career at the intersection of music, sports, entertainment, and technology. A creative force behind culture-shaping moments, he has helped launch and amplify artists including Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Post Malone, while pioneering digital music content through a daily YouTube show that generated billions of views. Across radio, television, film, and gaming, Skee has produced records for artists such as Michael Jackson, Chris Cornell, and Nipsey Hussle; created soundtracks for major titles including Fortnite and Halo; and hosted and produced projects including Skee TV and the Netflix documentary Sneakerheadz. In sports, he made history as the first DJ at an NFL game, NASCAR race, and University of Michigan event, working with teams such as the LA Rams and Minnesota Vikings to reimagine the fan experience through music, tech, and culture.
About the Walker Art Center
The Walker Art Center is a renowned multidisciplinary arts institution that presents, collects, and supports the creation of groundbreaking work across the visual and performing arts, moving image, and design. Guided by the belief that art has the power to bring joy and solace and the ability to unite people through dialogue and shared experiences, the Walker engages communities through a dynamic array of exhibitions, performances, events, and initiatives. Its multiacre campus includes 65,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, the state-of-the-art McGuire Theater and Walker Cinema, and ample green space that connects with the adjoining Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Garden, a partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, is one of the first urban sculpture parks of its kind in the United States and home to the beloved Twin Cities landmark Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Recognized for its ambitious program and growing collection of more than 16,000 works, the Walker embraces emerging art forms and amplifies the work of artists from the Twin Cities and from across the country and the globe. Its broad spectrum of offerings makes it a lively and welcoming hub for artistic expression, creative innovation, and community connection.