By Speed Art Museum Photos by Matt Johnson
The Speed Art Museum’s mission statement is “We invite everyone to celebrate art, forever.” This mission is the driving force behind the museum’s most significant fundraiser, the Speed Ball, held this year on March 1, 2025. This fundraiser helps the Speed to bring world-class exhibitions, expand statewide arts in education initiatives, grow and conserve the permanent collection and invite the entire community to experience the Speed.
Ann Wells and Laura Wells are the 2025 Speed Ball Co-Chairs, the first instance of a mother-daughter team in modern times. This dynamic duo is bringing a new passion and energy to the Speed Ball, with a goal of making it the most coveted ticket in town.
Ann Wells has been involved in the Speed Ball for almost 50 years. In those 50 years, she raised four children and was a corporate and community leader as the CEO of Commonwealth Bank. A steadfast supporter and Board member of the Speed and other non-profit organizations around Louisville, she modeled behavior for her family.
After being away from Louisville for 27 years, Ann’s daughter Laura Wells moved back to town with her husband and four young children in 2019. Laura has immersed herself in the Louisville community. She is on the Board of Governors for the Speed Art Museum, the Board of Directors at Stock Yards Bank and Trust, the Board of Directors for the Pendennis Club (first female board member) and the Board of Directors for Louisville-based holding company Citizens Financial Corporation.
Laura is excited to be back in her hometown and brings a fresh perspective to all facets of the Speed Ball. Ann is actively passing the torch of all her inherent knowledge and love of the Speed Ball to her daughter, building a solid second generation of philanthropists in the Wells family. They are eager for the Louisville community to experience the Speed Ball with this renewed sense of beauty and delight.
The theme of this year’s Ball is “Springtime in Paris”, a nod to the renewal and rebirth of the spring season as seen through a Parisian lens in the 1920s. The Speed Ball is the beginning of a bigger Parisian theme that will bloom at the end of March with the Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris special exhibition coming from the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Featuring over 65 artworks, this exhibition recaptures the experiences of women that moved to Paris in the beginning of the 20th century and blazed new trails in a variety of fields including art, literature, design, publishing, music, fashion, journalism, theater and dance.
The Speed Ball will take place on Saturday March 1, 2025 at the Speed Art Museum. Cocktails start at 6:30 p.m. with a seated dinner in the galleries at 7:30 p.m. Late Night at the Speed with dancing and dessert begins at 9 p.m.
DETAILS
Speed Art Museum
2035 South Third St.
Louisville, KY 40208
502-634-2700
SPEED BALL
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Cocktails 6:30 p.m.
Seated Dinner 7:30 p.m.
Late Night at the Speed 9:00 p.m.
White or Black Tie
Valet Parking
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