There was only one event where the CEO of Apple and a crew of Supreme skaters could have rubbed elbows as they took in a special fashion presentation by Grace Wales Bonner: the first annual GQ Global Creativity Awards, a celebration of “Big Ideas for a Better World,” which took place last night in New York. The evening brought together our 2023 class of honorees from the worlds of tech, fashion, film, television, music, art, sport, and beyond—all featured in the April issue of GQ—and GQ’s extended family of collaborators.
Hosted by GQ global editorial director Will Welch and sponsored by State Farm, David Yurman, Delta Air Lines, and Bombay Sapphire, the night kicked off when GQ cover stars Tim Cook, Donald Glover, and Hoyeon hit the red carpet at WSA, a new cultural hub in downtown NYC. During cocktail hour, fellow cover honoree Yohji Yamamoto beamed in from Tokyo with an exclusive fashion show, set to music recorded by Yamamoto himself. Then the party moved up 28 floors to a room with sweeping views of the East River skyline, of-the-moment jazz duo DOMi & JD Beck laid down a groove, and it was time for dinner and a show.
The host for the evening—singer and artistic force Ian Isiah—took the stage to introduce the GCA winners, each of whom took home a bronze GCA trophy crafted for GQ by David Yurman. “Look to the left of you and look to the right of you. There’s a creative next to you,” Isaiah said, welcoming the attendees, who dined on seafood towers and lobster pasta by the team behind Grand Cayman hotspot Palm Heights.
Pachinko novelist Min Jin Lee, who presented the first award of the night to Squid Game star Hoyeon, set the tone: “What makes a ‘global creative’? Is it talent? Intelligence? Desire? Courage? Curiosity, diligence, imagination, innovation, boldness? Is it perseverance, audacity, vision? Or is it the willingness to grow? To me, it is perhaps all those qualities, and more, that define my friend, Jung Hoyeon.” Accepting the award, Hoyeon hinted at big projects ahead: “I cannot wait to collaborate with more amazing and talented people like Min Jin Lee here around the world, and share it with everyone, everywhere, all at once.”
Tim Cook accepted his GCA before a room of raised iPhones. The Apple CEO struck an inspiring note: “We believe that everyone has the innate potential to be creative,” he said. “We believe that everyone has something to contribute. And we know that when technology is infused with humanity, it can empower people to make and do extraordinary things. We also believe that creativity has never been more essential than it is today. In a world filled with uncommon challenges, we need people with the courage to push boundaries and defy old ways of thinking.” Cook concluded his speech with a call to action: “Let’s unleash our collective creativity. Let’s free our imaginations and dream up new ideas. And let’s come together to create a better future for all.”