The eighth annual Visual AIDS Vanguard Awards (VaVa Voom) and spring benefit took place May 6 at the Angel Orensanz Foundation in New York City.

The awards recognize the achievements and contributions of artists, activists and art supporters who reinforce the mission of Visual AIDS. This year’s honorees included Visual AIDS founders Robert Atkins (writer/curator), Thomas Sokolowski (former director of the Andy Warhol Museum), Gary Garrels (chief curator at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art), William Olander (late curator of the New Museum) and founding executive director Patrick O’Connell. Visual AIDS also presented awards to activist and journalist Ann Northrop and fashion designer and Project Runway All Stars winner Mondo Guerra.

Tony Award nominee Colman Domingo hosted the event, which included performances by Raven O and Molly Pope and a silent art auction featuring the work of Bill Jacobson, Richard Renaldi, Patrick Lee, Bruce of Los Angeles, Keith Mayerson and others.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Visual AIDS. The contemporary arts organization utilizes art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV-positive artists and preserving a legacy, because AIDS is not over.

For more info, visit visualaids.org.