Inside the 2025 LACMA Art + Film, Presented by Gucci, Honoring Ryan Coogler and Mary Corse

Photo Credit: Neil Rasmus/BFA.comOn a picture-perfect Los Angeles evening, beneath the glow of Urban Light, the city’s most glittering crowd gathered for LACMA’s 14th annual Art + Film Gala—a celebration that raised an astonishing $6.5 million for the museum, marking a new milestone in its storied history.

Photo Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA

Co-chaired once again by Eva Chow and Leonardo DiCaprio and presented by Gucci, the evening honored two creative forces shaping modern culture: visionary artist Mary Corse and Oscar-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler. Nearly 600 guests from the worlds of art, film, fashion, and philanthropy filled the museum grounds to pay tribute to both icons—proof that, at LACMA, art and film aren’t just disciplines but dialogues.

Photo Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA)

A Night of Visionaries

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“Mary Corse and Ryan Coogler have each forged a singular path in their fields,” said Michael Govan, LACMA’s CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director. “Their work reminds us how light, image, and story can shift our perspective.”

Photo Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images for LACMA Following a cocktail hour on the Smidt Welcome Plaza, guests sat down to an exquisite dinner by Michelin-starred chef David Shim of COTE Korean Steakhouse. After warm welcomes from Govan and Chow, artist James Turrell introduced a short film directed by Alysa Nahmias, Mary Corse: Let Everything In. Corse’s tribute was followed by a stirring moment from Angela Bassett, who honored Coogler before a reel of his most powerful scenes—from Fruitvale Station to Wakanda Forever.

Photo Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA

“I think art is one of the things that makes us human,” Coogler told the crowd. “It helps us practice empathy—to see the world through someone else’s eyes.”

A Grand Finale by Doja Cat

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After dinner, Cynthia Erivo led guests back outside, where SZA introduced the evening’s performer, Doja Cat. With the David Geffen Galleries shimmering behind her, the GRAMMY-winning superstar delivered a high-octane set featuring hits from her new album Vie, including “Cards” and “All Mine”—a fitting close to a night devoted to creative evolution.

A Guest List Worthy of Hollywood and the Art World

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The guest list read like a cross-section of modern culture: Salma Hayek Pinault, Angela Bassett, Kaia Gerber, Ava DuVernay, Tessa Thompson, Cindy Crawford, Demi Moore, Lorde, Kristen Wiig, Troye Sivan, Lee Byung-hun, and Paris Hilton, among many others—nearly all wearing Gucci under the creative direction of Demna. Wines by JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, cocktails by KHEE Premium Soju, and spirits by Tequila Don Julio kept the conversation flowing late into the night.

The Art of Enduring Support

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Since its inception in 2011, the Art + Film Gala has been one of the city’s most anticipated philanthropic events—uniting Los Angeles’ creative class under the shared belief that cinema and art move in sync. “It’s always an honor to host such an incredible group of people to celebrate art and film at LACMA,” said Chow. “Doja Cat’s performance was the perfect finale to an unforgettable evening.”

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With its record-breaking total and star-studded show of support, LACMA’s 2025 Art + Film Gala once again proved what makes Los Angeles the epicenter of culture: a city where film, fashion, and fine art forever intertwine.

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