Sarah Paulson, Jane Fonda and Wendy Schmidt pose outside in pinks and yellows.” width=”970″ height=”693″ data-caption=’Sarah Paulson, Jane Fonda and Wendy Schmidt. <span class=”lazyload media-credit”>Marc Patrick/BFA.com</span>’>
Last week, some of the biggest names in art and architecture, film and fashion, politics and philanthropy, spent a night celebrating the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art’s impact—and the impact others have had on it. The institution’s spring gala, organized in partnership with BVLGARI, collected L.A.’s leading figures in the worlds of art, culture and philanthropy at The Geffen Contemporary to celebrate three “MOCA Legends”: Chicago-based artist and professor Theaster Gates, whose spirit-guided work reckons with Black space; Frank Gehry, the legendary Canadian-American architect recognized for postmodern subversions; and entrepreneur and philanthropist Wendy Schmidt. After filmmaker Ava DuVernay, actress and activist Jane Fonda and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi introduced the night’s honorees, GRAMMY-nominated rapper Tierra Whack kept the crowd energized with songs from her albums World Wide Whack and Whack World.
They weren’t the only ones to strut before the step-and-repeat, of course. More than 600 artists, patrons and cultural movers and shakers gathered that night to listen to MOCA director Johanna Burton, MOCA chair Maria Seferian and the three honorees hold forth on art’s profound connective powers before a sunset-ombre backdrop. The evening also included a ceremonial process led by Japanese drum ensemble TAIKOPROJECT and a special viewing of Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson’s newest exhibition, “Olafur Eliasson: OPEN.”
Also spotted were artists Doug AItken, Refik Anadol, Andrea Bowers and Marcel Alcalá, among many, many others. Philanthropists Edythe Broad and Jarl Mohn joined MOCA board president Carolyn Clark Powers and vice-chair Eugenio López Alonso, as actors including Josh Hutcherson, Sarah Paulson and Alexandra Hedison took their turns on the carpet. And LACMA CEO Michael Govan celebrated with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and The RealReal founder and former CEO Julie Wainwright.
As is usually the case with the best art parties, a DJ set and dessert finished out the festivities. “Art is about living a life where you take your talents, and you multiply them,” Gates remarked when he took his turn at the dais. All told, the gala raised over $3.1 million that will help ensure MOCA’s impact is similarly multiplied.
Ava DuVernay, Nancy Pelosi, Johanna Burton, Theaster Gates, Frank Gehry, Wendy Schmidt and Maria Seferian
Karyn Kohl and Sarah Paulson
Karyn Kohl and Sarah Paulson face each other, talking.” width=”970″ height=”776″ data-caption=’Karyn Kohl and Sarah Paulson. <span class=”lazyload media-credit”>Marc Patrick/BFA.com</span>’>
Josh Hutcherson
Alexandra Hedison and Sarah Paulson
Theaster Gates
Jason Swartz and Conor Tingley
Jason Swartz and Conor Tingley pose outside.” width=”970″ height=”1213″ data-caption=’Jason Swartz and Conor Tingley. <span class=”lazyload media-credit”>Marc Patrick/BFA.com</span>’>
Julie Wainwright
Katherine Ross, Michael Govan, Esthella Provas, Eugenio Lopez, Analisse Taft, Celesta Hodge and Maria Seferian
Katherine Ross, Michael Govan, Esthella Provas, Eugenio Lopez, Analisse Taft, Celesta Hodge and Maria Seferian pose together.” width=”970″ height=”647″ data-caption=’Katherine Ross, Michael Govan, Esthella Provas, Eugenio López Alonso, Analisse Taft, Celesta Hodge and Maria Seferian. <span class=”lazyload media-credit”>Marc Patrick/BFA.com</span>’>
Andrea Bowers
Nancy Pelosi, Johanna Burton and Karen Bass
Pia Mehta
Pia Mehta poses before a step-and-repeat.” width=”970″ height=”1358″ data-caption=’Pia Mehta. <span class=”lazyload media-credit”>Marc Patrick/BFA.com</span>’>
Ava DuVernay and Frank Gehry
Efsun Erkılıç and Refik Anadol
Marcel Alcalá and Carlye Packer
Carlye Packer stand outside.” width=”970″ height=”1358″ data-caption=’Marcel Alcalá and Carlye Packer. <span class=”lazyload media-credit”>Marc Patrick/BFA.com</span>’>
Mary Weatherford, Zoe Ryan and Jarl Mohn
Mary Weatherford, Zoe Ryan and Jarl Mohn pose outside.” width=”970″ height=”776″ data-caption=’Mary Weatherford, Zoe Ryan and Jarl Mohn. <span class=”lazyload media-credit”>Marc Patrick/BFA.com</span>’>
Viktoria Modesta
Viktoria Modesta poses in a gown.” width=”970″ height=”1358″ data-caption=’Viktoria Modesta. <span class=”lazyload media-credit”>Marc Patrick/BFA.com</span>’>
Olafur Eliasson
Nadya Tolokonnikova, Jane Fonda and Edythe Broad
Nadya Tolokonnikova, Jane Fonda and Edythe Broad pose.” width=”970″ height=”776″ data-caption=’Nadya Tolokonnikova, Jane Fonda and Edythe Broad. <span class=”lazyload media-credit”>Marc Patrick/BFA.com</span>’>
Carolyn Clark Powers and Maria Seferian
Terri Smooke and Esthella Provas
Terri Smooke smiles next to Esthella Provas outside.” width=”970″ height=”1358″ data-caption=’Terri Smooke and Esthella Provas. <span class=”lazyload media-credit”>Marc Patrick/BFA.com</span>’>
