By 6 p.m. on Saturday evening, the distinct atmosphere of high art, luxury fashion, and Hollywood prestige had taken over the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Guests began arriving beneath the warm, iconic glow of Chris Burden’s celebrated "Urban Light" installation, navigating the illuminated antique lampposts that have long served as the visual gateway to the museum’s most glamorous annual gathering. This marked the 15th installment of the prestigious Art+Film Gala, an event that has steadily solidified its reputation as one of the definitive cultural intersections on the global social calendar.
This year’s celebration held special significance as Demna’s second LACMA gala since taking the creative helm at Gucci, which has proudly served as the event’s presenting sponsor since its inception in 2011. While his appearance last year functioned as a high-profile Hollywood red carpet debut for the legendary Italian fashion house under his creative direction, this year’s chapter offered a much broader, more assured look at his evolving vision. Demna dressed a diverse array of prominent personalities in equally varied silhouettes and experimental styles, showcasing the expansive range of his design vocabulary.
Among the standout fashion moments of the evening was Viola Davis, who cut a striking figure in a shimmering ivory one-shoulder gown, and Salma Hayek Pinault, who wore a glittering red creation. Hayek Pinault attended alongside her husband, François-Henri Pinault, who chairs Gucci’s parent company, Kering. Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian continued her longstanding stylistic relationship with Demna—a creative alliance stretching back to her era with Balenciaga—arriving in a body-hugging burgundy sequined number that caught the evening light.
The red carpet proved to be a masterclass in modern eveningwear as supermodels and cultural figures made their grand entrances. Candice Swanepoel and Alix Earle both chose to shimmer in silver; Swanepoel wore a revealing, dramatic gown featuring cascading embellishments, while Earle opted for a fringed creation complete with a plunging neckline. Elsewhere, Elsa Hosk and Alex Consani demonstrated contrasting approaches to gala attire, with Hosk wearing a strapless gray gown featuring a sharply sculpted waist, and Consani turning heads in a voluminous, avant-garde black ballgown.
Roaring attention was also directed toward Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who looked sleek in a sophisticated black gown designed with a dramatically open back that exposed her backside, defying conventional red-carpet boundaries. Quenlin Blackwell took a modern, edgy route in a strapless black leather dress, and Jordyn Woods-Towns selected a fitted chocolate-brown lace dress that paired elegance with contemporary texture.
Then arrived Nicole Kidman, whose grand entrance in custom Chanel brought a fresh, intense flurry of camera flashes and media attention. The acclaimed actress wore a fitted, gold-toned, long-sleeved bodice expertly paired with a voluminous ivory tulle skirt that radiated classic Hollywood grandeur. Kidman paused to pose alongside celebrated filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, one of the evening’s dual honorees, before the two made their way past the crowds and into the exclusive cocktail reception. Inside the expansive tent, they graciously stopped once more for photographers. When Villeneuve attempted to head deeper into the reception area, Kidman good-naturedly indulged requests for a few more frames, calling out across the room, “I’ll see you in there soon.”
The gala’s central mission was to celebrate exceptional contributions to contemporary culture, honoring Denis Villeneuve alongside renowned artist Vija Celmins, whose meditative depictions of ocean surfaces, desert floors, and expansive night skies have earned her global critical acclaim. Drawing more than 600 distinguished guests from the worlds of high art, independent film, luxury fashion, and mainstream entertainment, the evening achieved a historic milestone by raising nearly $7 million—a record-breaking total dedicated entirely to supporting the museum’s ambitious film and exhibition programming.
During the cocktail hour, attendees mingled freely over drinks and a continuous stream of passed hors d’oeuvres, pausing constantly for photographs and embracing familiar faces across the arts and entertainment industries. The room buzzed with lively conversation and warm reunions. “Looking good, sir,” artist Catherine Opie called out cheerfully to restaurateur Michael Chow as their paths crossed amid the bustling crowd.
The guest list read like a definitive who’s who of global culture. Timothée Chalamet, Andrew Garfield, Anya Taylor-Joy, Parker Posey, Al Pacino, and Julia Garner moved easily through the crowd alongside prominent filmmakers Spike Jonze and Gia Coppola. The art world was heavily represented by luminaries such as Ed Ruscha, Mickalene Thomas, and Refik Anadol, while the corporate and philanthropic pillars of the community included Gucci president and chief executive officer Francesca Bellettini, legendary art dealer Larry Gagosian, and major museum figures including Thelma Golden, Ann Philbin, and Cameron Shaw. Pop culture royalty and international style icons—including Kylie Jenner, Paris Hilton, Sofia Vergara, and Emily Ratajkowski—rounded out the eclectic, star-studded assembly.
“Same tent, different buildings around it,” joked Michael Govan, LACMA’s CEO and Wallis Annenberg director, addressing the audience from the stage. His wry comment played on the dramatic physical transformation of the museum campus, referencing the newly completed David Geffen Galleries, which represent the triumphant culmination of a massive, 20-year architectural and fundraising project.
Govan took a significant moment on stage to formally thank Gucci for its steadfast, long-term partnership. “Demna, thanks for living in Los Angeles,” he added to warm applause. “We love that.”
Shifting gears, Govan turned his attention to Eva Chow, delivering an unusually personal, deeply felt tribute that subtly hinted at the evening’s biggest and most unexpected news. A carefully curated slideshow flickered across the screens behind him, featuring photographs of Chow alongside a rotating cast of high-profile guests throughout the gala’s rich 15-year history. Notably featured in the retrospective was her longtime co-chair, Leonardo DiCaprio, who was absent from the event this year.
“This event is now our greatest fundraiser, but it’s our greatest friend raiser,” Govan noted, praising Chow’s unmatched ability to marshal global cultural influence in service of the museum.
When Chow finally took the stage, wearing a flowing white Gucci gown adorned with delicate feather-trimmed sleeves and hem, the room quieted down in anticipation. She delivered an emotional and definitive announcement: “After 15 wonderful years, this will be my final year serving as co-chair.”
Chow reflected on the early days of the initiative, recalling when she visited Leonardo DiCaprio at his home to pitch him the ambitious idea of co-chairing the fledgling gala. “He is not a person who does a lot of co-chairing for events, but I thought I would try,” she shared with the attentive audience. “He generously said yes.”
She looked back fondly on the inaugural event, which famously honored Clint Eastwood and the late artist John Baldessari, featuring a memorable live performance by Stevie Wonder. In the years since that first gathering, the gala has steadily grown into a cultural powerhouse, raising close to $60 million total for LACMA. “I leave this chapter with tremendous pride, wonderful memories and, above all, gratitude,” she said, receiving a prolonged, standing ovation from the moved crowd. According to industry sources close to the museum, the search for a new co-chair to serve alongside DiCaprio is already actively underway.
The program continued as writer Rachel Kushner stepped up to introduce Vija Celmins, preceding a short, intimate film that offered guests a rare glimpse into the artist’s private studio. The documentary drew widespread laughter from the audience for its unexpectedly candid, humorous moments.
“Why did I let them in my studio?” Celmins quipped dryly as she took the microphone, displaying a sharp wit that charmed the room. The 88-year-old Latvian-born artist, who currently lives and works in New York, reflected on how the distinctive light and vast expanses of California’s ocean and landscape profoundly shaped her artistic vision during her foundational years living in Los Angeles. Before stepping down from the stage, she offered one final, highly amused assessment of the glittering, high-energy room: “You guys are just crazy party people,” she said, drawing another wave of warm laughter.
While the formal presentations concluded, the evening’s celebrations were far from over. The party was slated to continue late into the night outdoors, featuring decadent desserts, Don Julio cocktails served uniquely in edible chocolate cups, and a highly anticipated live performance by Rosé. The K-pop superstar was set to deliver the live debut of her new single “New Trick” alongside a medley of her chart-topping hits, including the global phenomenon “APT.”
Before the music shifted to the late-night festivities, however, Nicole Kidman took the stage to introduce Denis Villeneuve, instantly breaking the ice with a disarming and remarkably candid confession. “I’m sweating, so I’m just going to disclose I have sweaty armpits,” she said, charming the room with her utter lack of pretense. “Let’s keep it real here.”
The celebrated actress, who had flown a grueling 15 hours straight from attending a repeat Chanel cruise show in Australia specifically to be present for the occasion, spoke movingly of her deep professional and personal admiration for the Canadian filmmaker. “Somehow I feel like I know the deepest parts of him because that is what extraordinary filmmakers do,” she told the crowd. “They let you in… You take us to another planet. You take us to another reality entirely, and somehow you bring us closer to ourselves.”
Villeneuve, who had been seated earlier beside Timothée Chalamet, returned the profound compliment when he took his turn at the podium. He singled out Kidman’s fearless, masterclass performance in the psychological drama “Birth,” specifically highlighting a lingering sequence that he described as “one of the most powerful shots I have ever seen.” He also shared an illuminating anecdote about his creative process, revealing how a past James Turrell exhibition hosted at LACMA directly inspired his atmospheric approach to spatial storytelling in his critically acclaimed sci-fi film “Arrival.”
“Every time I walk into one, I feel like a vampire,” Villeneuve joked of museums, drawing knowing chuckles from the cultural elite. “I suck in the energy from the walls.”
The director ultimately ended his speech on a sharply playful note. Knowing he was slated to helm the next installment in the legendary James Bond film franchise, Villeneuve teased the eager audience by pretending he was about to break massive industry news and reveal the identity of the next actor to take on the iconic 007 mantle. Smartphones instantly shot up across the room to capture the breaking scoop, while the film’s veteran producer, Amy Pascal, looked on from her seat with an expression of sheer suspense.
“The actor who will play the next James Bond is…” Villeneuve began, building the tension to a peak before freezing completely.
He smiled slyly, letting the punchline hang in the air for a beat. “I will stop right now because Amy Pascal is about to have a heart attack.”
