The UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center will once again bring together art, philanthropy and purpose at the 41st annual ArtBLINK Gala, set for Saturday, February 7, at The Kirklin Clinic. Recognized as one of Birmingham’s most anticipated social events, ArtBLINK combines creativity and compassion to support groundbreaking cancer research and patient care.
Hosted by the O’Neal Cancer Center Advisory Board, ArtBLINK raises vital funds for the center’s Fund for Excellence, which supports high-priority research initiatives. The evening’s signature feature is a live art experience in which selected artists create original works in real time while guests enjoy cocktails, dinner and dancing. The completed pieces are then offered through a silent auction, allowing attendees to take home one-of-a-kind art while contributing to lifesaving research.
This year’s gala will honor Tricia Kirk and Neillie Butler, a mother-daughter duo whose personal journeys reflect resilience, strength and unwavering advocacy. Butler, a desmoid sarcoma survivor, and Kirk, who is currently undergoing treatment, serve as ambassadors in the cancer community through advocacy, leadership and service. Their stories embody the spirit of ArtBLINK—hope, courage and community. “What motivated me to share my own story of battling cancer is simple,” Neillie Butler says. “The O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center became a true home away from home during one of the most critical periods of my young adult life. Yet every day I walked through those glass doors, I carried an unusual sense of hope and confidence. I knew without a doubt that I was in the very best hands, and that knowledge gave me a profound sense of peace throughout my fight.”
The evening will also feature artwork by John Miller Gorrie, an artist and participant at The Exceptional Foundation, a nonprofit captained by Kirk for many years. Guests will enjoy an elegant dining experience by IZ Catering and décor by AG Events, all set within the iconic I.M. Pei-designed Kirklin Clinic.
ArtBLINK begins at 6:30 p.m., with the live art experience starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at artblink.org. Proceeds benefit the O’Neal Cancer Center, one of only 56 National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country, continuing its mission to advance cancer research, treatment and hope.
