LACMA’S 10TH Annual Art+Film Gala Raises $5 Million

LACMA’S 10TH Annual Art+Film Gala Raises $5 Million

Los Angeles, CA. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) hosted its 10th annual Art+Film Gala on November 6th, honoring artists Amy Sherald and Kehinde Wiley and filmmaker Steven Spielberg. The event, attended by more than 650 prominent guests from the art, film, and fashion industries, was co-chaired by LACMA trustees Eva Chow and Leonardo DiCaprio. Honorees Kevin Pemberton, Amy Sherald, Kate Capshaw, and honoree Steven Spielberg, were all wearing clothing by the event’s sponsor, Gucci. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for LACMA) This year’s event raised $5 million to support LACMA’s film initiatives, as well as future exhibitions, acquisitions, and programming. Returning once again as presenting sponsor of the Art+Film Gala, Gucci expanded its longstanding and generous partnership with the museum by supporting LACMA’s presentation of The Obama Portraits Tour and the companion exhibition Black American Portraits. Audi provided additional support for the gala for the third year.

Art+Film Gala Co-Chair Leonardo DiCaprio and honoree Steven Spielberg, both wearing Gucci, and Bob Iger  (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA)

Diane Keaton and Serena Williams, both wearing Gucci, attend the 10th Annual LACMA ART+FILM GALA (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA)

Billie Eilish and Miley Cyrus, both wearing Gucci. Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for LACMA)

Paris Hilton attends the 10th Annual LACMA ART+FILM GALA. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA)

Chris Martin and Judd Apatow  (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA)

Blackwell and Lil Nas X, both wearing Gucci, (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA)

Morgan Spector, Rebecca Hall, Sophie Hunter, and Benedict Cumberbatch, wearing Gucci, (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA)

Julia Carey and James Corden, both wearing Gucci, The Bullitts, Nicole Avant, and Ted Sarandos (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for LACMA)

Will Ferrell and Viveca Paulin (Photo by Donato Sardella/Getty Images for LACMA)

“It meant so much to honor Amy Sherald and Kehinde Wiley, both artists of extraordinary vision, as we welcomed their iconic portraits of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama to LACMA, alongside Steven Spielberg—one of the greatest artists of American cinema,” said Michael Govan, LACMA CEO, and Wallis Annenberg Director. “As co-chairs of the Art+Film Gala for 10 years, Eva Chow and Leonardo DiCaprio have made this such an important event for all the creative industries in Los Angeles, and I’m so appreciative of their dedication to the gala and the museum.”

The Obama portraits by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, at LACMA through January 2, 2022.

Art+Film Gala co-chair Eva Chow said, “I am delighted that the return of the Art+Film Gala was such a tremendous success. It was such a pleasure to recognize the creative achievements of all three of our honorees and to celebrate a decade of art and film at LACMA with our longstanding partner Gucci. I’m so grateful to Alessandro Michele, Marco Bizzari, and everyone at Gucci for their friendship and steadfast support, as well as to Celeste for giving us a spectacular performance that no one will soon forget.”

Renowned artists, distinguished guests, and luminaries from the art, film, fashion, music, and entertainment industries arrived at the Art+Film Gala’s red carpet adjacent to Chris Burden’s iconic Urban Light (2008) on Wilshire Boulevard. Guests then enjoyed a cocktail reception and a DJ set by the legendary D-Nice outdoors. Guests also visited the Resnick Pavilion to see two new exhibitions, The Obama Portraits Tour featuring paintings by honorees Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, as well as Black American Portraits. Following cocktails, guests moved into the Art+Film pavilion overlooking Michael Heizer’s Levitated Mass (2012) for a special dinner—a collaboration between chef Joachim Splichal of Patina Restaurant Group and chef Mattia Agazzi of Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura in Beverly Hills. Recently awarded a Michelin Star, Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura Beverly Hills represents a culinary universe by interlacing the colors and flavors of Italy with its new Californian surroundings.

After Michael Govan and Eva Chow welcomed the crowd, Tracee Ellis Ross gave a tribute to honoree Amy Sherald. Ava DuVernay then gave a tribute to honoree Kehinde Wiley, which was followed by a short film about the artists by Christine Turner. Guillermo del Toro then presented a tribute to Steven Spielberg, and guests enjoyed a montage of the director’s films.

Following the dinner program, guests were invited back outside where Sienna Miller introduced the evening’s performer, Celeste, who delivered a captivating performance of soulful hits from her debut album “Not Your Muse.” Shabaka Hutchings and the Free Nationals shared the stage for her set, and Florence Welch joined Celeste for a special duet of the Marvin Gaye classic “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

About LACMA:
Located on the Pacific Rim, LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of more than 147,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. Committed to showcasing a multitude of art histories, LACMA exhibits and interprets works of art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population. LACMA’s spirit of experimentation is reflected in its work with artists, technologists, and thought leaders as well as in its regional, national, and global partnerships to share collections and programs, create pioneering initiatives, and engage new audiences.

Los Angeles Opera Plans Return for January 2021

Los Angeles Opera Plans Return for January 2021

Los Angeles, CA. The LA Opera awaits its cue to return to live performances on stage. Mozart’s Don Giovanni (seen above) is scheduled for January 30th, 2021.

Here’s some information about the show: Superstar bass Ildebrando D’Arcangelo returns as opera’s most notorious playboy in a visually spectacular production that pulls you into the characters’ inner thoughts and shifting emotions. And with James Conlon conducting this Mozart masterpiece and a new production featuring scenery by Es Devlin (star designer of concerts for U2, Kanye West, and Beyoncé).

Mozart’s Don Giovanni is scheduled for January 30th, 2021.

Meanwhile, the LA Opera company has turned to create an array of online content through the LA Opera At Home initiative, which will soon expand to include a series of exciting new Digital Shorts commissions as well as a November 14 stream of The Anonymous Lover by Joseph Bologne, the first known Black classical composer. Since the launch of LA Opera At Home in March, these popular online offerings have accumulated more than 740,000 views to date.

LA Opera is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the greater Los Angeles community.  LA Opera’s young artist program is generously underwritten by the Colburn Foundation, Eugene and Marilyn Stein, and Richard and Lenore Wayne. Tickets available now or as part of a Spring 2021 subscription package.

To access all of these programs and to learn more about current and future programming, please visit LAOpera.org/AtHome.

To access all of these programs and to learn more about current and future programming, please visit LAOpera.org

About LA Opera At Home:

LA Opera was the first major American opera company to create a weekly schedule of original new online programming to bring opera to audiences during the coronavirus crisis. LA Opera At Home launched on March 17 with the first in a series of live “Living Room Recitals” featuring artists performing in their homes. Other programming highlights include: “Opera Family Time” presentations created specially for families with children to enjoy together; “Learn at Home (Grown-Up Edition)” opportunities for opera lovers of any experience level to dive deeper into the art form; “From the Vault” streams of earlier performances; and “Backstage at LAO” features that take viewers behind the scenes for a look at what it takes to create world-class opera.

About LA Opera
Los Angeles is a city of enormous diversity and creativity, and LA Opera is dedicated to reflecting that vibrancy by redefining what opera can be with thrilling performances, thought-provoking productions and innovative programming. The communal and curative power of opera is needed now more than ever before, especially given the extraordinary challenges of the time. The company is grateful to its supporters for helping to ensure that it has the resources needed to get through this unprecedented period through the LA Opera Relief Fund. Those wanting to support LA Opera can go to LAOpera.org/donate.

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