Mr. Trash Wheel, disgraced former Attorney General Pam Bondi, and at least five Cruella de Vils were just a few of the celebrities spotted at Creative Alliance‘s legendary costume party on Saturday, May 2nd. The Marquee Ball is Creative Alliance’s largest annual fundraiser and supports the myriad programs they offer as a hub of creativity and cultural innovation in Baltimore. With this year’s theme, “Heroes and Villains,” the organization also “celebrated the extraordinary powers of our creative community.”
The evening began with an exclusive cocktail hour and dinner party at The Patterson where Creative Alliance honored Rosalind “Roz” Cauthen, Executive Director of the Baltimore School for the Arts, with the 2026 Golden Formstone Award and Tom Hall, WYPR host and dedicated arts leader, with the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.
More supporters streamed in for the silent art auction and dance party featuring music by DJ Chris Brooks, the Allen Branch Jazz Trio, and Jonathan Gilmore. Guests also got to tour “the secret headquarters” of Creative Alliance’s resident artists Nicoletta Daríta de la Brown, Bria Sterling-Wilson, Jasmine Adams, Edgar Rayes, Ayana Gordon, and Roo Taylor in their open studios.
From The Theater to the galleries to the open studios—the evening was a showcase of the inspired spaces and imaginative spirit Creative Alliance offers to Baltimore, as well as of its brilliantly colorful fans who show up time and again (in wigs, feathers, and capes no-less) to support the organization.
Photographer E. Brady Robinson captured the magic of the event. We hope you enjoy her photos as much as we do.
