Photo Credit: Getty Images for LACMA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art celebrated its 50th anniversary over the weekend with a glam, star-studded gala attended by celebrities and art world luminaries alike.
The evening welcomed approximately 750 guests including trustees William H. Ahmanson, Mark Attanasio, Nicole Avant, Willow Bay, Frank E. Baxter, Mrs. Lionel Bell, Rebecka Belldegrun, David C. Bohnett, Suzanne Deal Booth, Andy Brandon-Gordon, Ann Colgin, Janet Crown, Kelvin Davis, Joshua S. Friedman, Julian Ganz Jr., Gabriela Garza, Brian Grazer, Brad Grey, Victoria Jackson, Suzanne Kayne, Bobby Kotick, Lyn Davis Lear, Bryan Lourd, Michael Lynton, Jamie McCourt, William A. Mingst, Heather Mnuchin, Wendy Stark Morrissey, Jane Nathanson, Viveca Paulin-Ferrell, Janet Dreisen Rappaport, Lynda Resnick, Carole Bayer Sager, Ryan Seacrest, Terry Semel, Florence Sloan, Eric Smidt, Jonathan D. Sokoloff, Sandra W. Terner, Steve Tisch, Casey Wasserman, Walter L. Weisman, Elaine Wynn, Dasha Zhukova, and Ann Ziff and Michael G. Smooke; art luminaries Hitoshi Abe, Doug Aitken, Evgenia Citkowitz, Neil Denari, Charles Gaines, Frank Gehry, Mark Grotjahn, Jennifer Guidi, Alex Israel, Toba Khedoori, Barbara Kruger, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Catherine Opie, Helen Pashgian, Ann Philbin, Alex Prager, Sterling Ruby, Ed Ruscha, Melanie Schiff, Paul Schimmel, Patssi Valdez, DeWain Valentine, Philippe Vergne, Bill Viola, James Welling, and Firooz Zahedi; celebrities such as Julie Bowen, Jim Carrey, Elizabeth Chambers, Laura Dern, Will Ferrell, Armie Hammer, Dustin Hoffman, Anjelica Huston, Jimmy Iovine, Jason Reitman, Liberty Ross, Liev Schreiber, Seal, Barbra Streisand, and Naomi Watts; and elected officials such as State Assembly Member Richard Bloom, Mayor Eric Garcetti and former mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Photo Credit: Getty Images for LACMA
The event, which was sponsored by Christie’s, raised $5 million, the proceeds of which will benefit the museum’s programming and acquisitions.
In honor of the occasion, LACMA trustees Jane Nathanson and Lynda Resnick gifted significant works of art to the museum’s collection; in addition, the two trustees led a campaign encouraging other patrons to donate or bequeath major artworks to LACMA. Gala attendees had an opportunity to preview the broad range of new gifts in a special exhibition, 50 for 50: Gifts on the Occasion of LACMA’s Anniversary (on view to the public April 26–September 13, 2015).
The 50th Anniversary Gala began at Chris Burden’s Urban Light on Wilshire Boulevard. As cloud drummers flanked the monumental sculpture, guests from the art, design, civic, philanthropic, entertainment, music, and fashion industries arrived on the red carpet. A cocktail reception was held in BCAM, where attendees enjoyed Krug Grande Cuvée Champagne and viewed a video montage of LACMA’s movie and television appearances over the past decades. Following cocktails, the exhibition 50 for 50 was spectacularly unveiled in the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion.
Photo Credit: Getty Images for LACMA
As attendees sat down for a special dinner prepared by Patina’s Joachim Splichal, they were treated to an aerial performance by Strange Fruit, a Melbourne-based troupe that fuses theater, dance, and circus. Over the course of dinner, speakers included Michael Govan, gala co-chair, and co-chair of LACMA’s board of trustees Andy Brandon-Gordon. Further into the evening, attendees viewed LACMA50, a short film commemorating the museum’s 50th anniversary directed by Doug Pray.
The 50th Anniversary Gala culminated in a live performance by Seal, who performed his hits “Crazy,” “Love’s Divine,” and “Kissed by a Rose” in addition to two songs from his forthcoming album. After his last song, guests were serenaded with a special rendition of “Happy Birthday,” performed by the John Burroughs High School Powerhouse Choir.
Photo Credit: Getty Images for LACMA
Photo Credit: Getty Images for LACMA
Photo Credit: Getty Images for LACMA
Photo Credit: Getty Images for LACMA
Photo Credit: Getty Images for LACMA
Photo Credit: Getty Images for LACMA
Photo Credit: Getty Images for LACMA
Photo Credit: Getty Images for LACMA
