Ocean House Bridging Communities Through Art: Museums and Resorts As Cultural Beacons

A special, live event comes to Ocean House, a Forbes Five-Star Hotel, Spa and Restaurant, Relais and Châteaux, luxury resort overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Watch Hill, R.I., on Sunday 13 July, at 4PM. This event is open to the general public who can buy tickets here.

Bridging Communities Through Art: Museums and Resorts as Cultural Beacon brings together three art-world leaders for an inspiring and thought-provoking dialogue. The Chairman Emeritus of Christie’s | Fine Art, Luxury & Antiques Auctions, Stephen Lash will lead a stimulating exploration of how cultural institutions are extending their influence into the broader community in conversation with the CEO of the Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach, Florida, Ghislain D’humieres and the CEO of The Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut, Mary-Kate O’Hare.

Learn how these institutions are weaving art into the everyday lives of residents and visitors alike, making art and culture more inclusive, accessible, and integrated into the lives of their respective communities. Discover the many ways these leaders are bringing art directly into the rhythm of daily life from pop-up exhibits to collaborative events with civic groups to educational initiatives in schools to talks in unexpected places.

Stephen Lash is the Chairman Emeritus of Christie’s Americas, having served as Chairman of Christie’s Americas for nearly a decade. He has been with the international auction house since 1976, when he was a member of the original team responsible for launching the Christie’s first galleries in the United States on Park Avenue in New York City. Prior to joining Christie’s, Mr. Lash was a Vice President at S.G. Warburg & Co.

Mr. Lash has served as President and Trustee of the Institute of Fine Arts of New York University. He is also a former Trustee of the Museum of the City of New York, the Park Avenue Armory, and the New York Landmarks Conservancy, where he served as Chairman. He now chairs the Maritime Visiting Committee of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, where he serves as an Overseer. He is current Co-Chair of the American Friends of the Israel Museum, for which he served as President for six years, and has been a Board member of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Preservation League of New York State. Mr. Lash received a B.A. from Yale and an M.B.A. from Columbia.

Ghislain d’Humières has worked throughout his career to advance community engagement and increase access to art at cultural institutions across the country. He has extensive expertise in expanding public programming, building and caring for collections, and fundraising, and has led institutions through significant moments of transformation and growth. He joined the Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach, Florida in January of 2021—a pivotal moment for the institution, following its recent expansion by Foster + Partners and its November 2020 reopening after an eight-month closure due to the Coronavirus pandemic. As the Kenneth C. Griffin Director and CEO, d’Humières oversees the Norton’s operations and the advancement of its collection, the leading and most far-ranging in Florida and the region. Working in concert with the curatorial and education departments,  d’Humières is expanding the Museum’s role as a vital, year-round resource for the entire West Palm Beach community with programming that illuminates diverse and global perspectives.

Mary-Kate O’Hare is the Susan E. Lynch Executive Director and CEO of the Bruce Museum in Greenwich Connecticut, which she joined in April of 2025. O’Hare brings 25 years of curatorial and leadership experience to the role and is the first woman to serve as a permanent executive director of the Museum since its inception in 1912. She oversees the institution’s 66-person staff and $10 million budget and leads and supports all aspects of the Museum. Prior to joining the Bruce, O’Hare served as head of art advisory and director at Citi Private Bank Art Advisory. Earlier, she was curator of American art and department head at the Newark Museum, held curatorial roles at The Morris Museum, and served as an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and William Paterson University. A trustee and executive committee member for the Association of Art Museum Curators, O’Hare earned a doctorate and a master’s degree in art history from Rutgers and a bachelor’s degree in art history from Allegheny College.