The beloved L.A. institution celebrates its 40th anniversary with an unforgettable night at the museum
Words by ANUSH J. BENLIYAN
A crowd of nearly 700 luminaries from the art, fashion and entertainment worlds were rubbing elbows on Saturday, May 18, as they joined MOCA’s newly minted director, Klaus Biesenbach, for the highly anticipated 2019 MOCA Benefit.
Among the attendees were more than 300 artists, including Sterling Ruby, Mark Bradford and Catherine Opie, and art world dignitaries such as Larry Gagosian, Shulamit Nazarian and Bettina Korek, as well as A-listers Keanu Reeves, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Billy Idol, Christoph Waltz and others.
Hosted at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, the evening — which celebrated the 40th anniversary of the beloved Los Angeles institution — kicked off with a cocktail reception, during which guests were invited to check out pieces by John Baldessari, Anicka Yi and other artists in the commemorative new exhibit, The Foundation of the Museum: MOCA’s Collection. Later, during the formal dinner wherein everyone was seated at one long serpentine table, the audience enjoyed live performances by Rufus Wainwright (whose husband, artistic director Jörn Weisbrodt, was also in attendance), and Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye.
The benefit raised more than $3 million for the museum’s operations, and to top the evening off, it was announced that, thanks to a $10 million pledge by MOCA board president Carolyn Clark Powers, the museum will be able to offer free admission to the public (more details to be announced soon).
Feature image: BILLY IDOL, CHINA CHOW, ALEX ISRAEL and SHARON STONE. Photo by Zack Whitford/BFA.com.
May 21, 2018
