The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) hosted its eighth annual Art+Film Gala on Saturday, November 3, 2018, honoring artist Catherine Opie and filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. Co-chaired by LACMA trustee Eva Chow and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, the evening brought together more than 850 distinguished guests from the art, film, fashion, and
entertainment industries, among others. This year’s gala raised more than $4.5 million, with proceeds supporting LACMA’s film initiatives and future exhibitions,
acquisitions, and programming. The 2018 Art+Film Gala was made possible through Gucci’s longstanding and generous partnership.

Eva Chow, co-chair of the Art+Film Gala, said, “I’m happy that we honored Cathy Opie and Guillermo del Toro in what was our most successful Art+Film Gala yet. It is so special to acknowledge Cathy’s and Guillermo’s creative work as we continue to support LACMA’s film initiatives and programs. My immense thanks to Alessandro Michele, Marco Bizzarri, and the entire Gucci team for being our faithful partner since the very beginning, and to Beck for his amazing performance.”

“I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to both Eva Chow and Leonardo DiCaprio, who have served as the Art+Film Gala co-chairs since the inaugural event,” said Michael Govan, LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director. “Last night, we honored the achievements of two artistic innovators who share an exceptional commitment to telling stories of the human experience. Cathy captures aspects of American culture, identity, and politics that connect with viewers of all backgrounds, and Guillermo challenges us to ignore our traditional art historical narratives and hierarchies as he blends and reinvents conventional genres. We are thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments and contributions.”

The Art+Film Gala began with red-carpet arrivals of art world and entertainment luminaries, fashion icons, and renowned artists at LACMA’s Wilshire Boulevard entrance. This year, transportation and additional support for the gala was provided by Audi. Guests then moved through the museum’s Smidt Welcome Plaza to a cocktail reception on the museum’s Zev Yaroslavsky Plaza. After cocktails, guests proceeded to the Art+Film dinner pavilion overlooking Michael Heizer’s Levitated Mass (2012), where they were seated for a special dinner prepared by Edoardo Baldi of e. baldi Ristorante and Joachim Splichal of Patina Restaurant Group.

Michael Govan and Eva Chow welcomed the crowd. Further into the evening, Los Angeles Poet Laureate Robin Coste Lewis gave a tribute in Opie’s honor and filmmaker Sini Anderson contributed a short film about the artist. Shortly thereafter, Jeffrey Katzenberg presented a tribute to Guillermo del Toro and the audience enjoyed a montage of the director’s films.

Following the evening’s dinner program, Will Ferrell invited guests to an outdoor performance. Dakota Johnson then introduced Beck, who powered through hits “Devil’s Haircut,” “Loser,” and “E-Pro,” with special guests Dave Grohl on drums and Greg Kurstin on guitar and organ. The set concluded with “Where It’s At,” featuring a mammoth covers medley including the Blondie classic “Rapture,” with vocals from very special guest St. Vincent.

Luminaries from the art world attending the 2018 Art+Film Gala included Doug Aitken, Klaus Biesenbach, Tim Blum, 2017 Art+Film Gala honoree Mark Bradford, Kerry Brougher, Maurizio Cattelan, Dan Colen, Petra Collins, George Davis, Tacita Dean and Mathew Hale, Thomas Demand, Frank Gehry, Michael Govan and Katherine Ross, Joanne Heyler, Thomas Houseago and Muna El Fituri, Alex Israel, Naima J. Keith, Toba Khedoori, Bettina Korek, Nate Lowman, Deborah McLeod, Helen Molesworth, 2018 Art+Film Gala honoree Catherine Opie, Julie Burleigh, Oliver Opie, Sara LaCroix, Shaun Regen, Nancy Rubins, Sterling Ruby, Alison Saar, Betye Saar, Kristin Sakoda, Julian Schnabel, Tavares Strachan, Diana Thater and T. Kelly Mason, Mary Weatherford, Kulapat Yantrasast, Andrea Zittel, and Peter Zumthor.

The entertainment, fashion, and business worlds were represented by this year’s gala performer Beck, gala co-chair Eva Chow, 2018 Art+Film Gala honoree Guillermo del Toro, gala co-chair Leonardo DiCaprio, and Gucci Creative Director and gala host committee chair Alessandro Michele. Other notable guests included Sini Anderson, Rowan Blanchard, Francesco Carrozzini, Damien Chazelle and Olivia Hamilton, Asia Chow, Ryan Coogler, Gia Coppola, Victor Cruz, Alfonso Cuarón, Lee Daniels, Lana Del Rey, Gang Dong-Won, Jon Favreau, Will Ferrell, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Henry Golding, Dave Grohl, Dawn Hudson, Bob Iger, 2015 Art+Film Gala honoree Alejandro González Iñárritu, Jimmy Iovine and Liberty Ross, Dakota Johnson, Sam Taylor Johnson, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel, Zoë Kravitz, Kiki Layne, Byung-hun Lee, Jung-jae Lee, Jared Leto, Billie Lourd,
Courtney Love, 2017 Art+Film Gala honoree George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, Baz Luhrmann, Michael Mann, Ryan Murphy, Hari Nef, Guy Oseary, Salma Hayek Pinault and François-Henri Pinault, Wolfgang and Gelila Puck, A$AP Rocky, Molly Sims, St. Vincent, Karrueche Tran, Lucy Walker, John David Washington, Kim Kardashian West, Kourtney Kardashian, and Jordan Wolfson.

LACMA trustees in attendance included Ambassador Nicole Avant, Willow Bay, Allison Berg, Troy Carter, Eva Chow, Kelvin Davis, Suzanne Deal Booth, Joshua Friedman, Victoria Jackson, Bryan Lourd, Jane Nathanson, Geoff Palmer, Viveca Paulin-Ferrell, Janet Rappaport, Lynda Resnick, Carter Reum, Florence Sloan, Eric Smidt, and Michael Smooke. Other notable guests included Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu, and Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles Carlos García de Alba.