By 6 p.m. Saturday, guests had begun arriving beneath the glowing lampposts of Chris Burden’s “Urban Light” installation at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for the 15th annual Art+Film Gala.
It was Demna’s second LACMA gala since joining Gucci, the event’s presenting sponsor since its inception in 2011. While last year served as his Hollywood red carpet debut for the Italian house, this chapter offered a broader look at his vision, with Demna dressing a range of personalities in equally varied silhouettes and styles — from Viola Davis in a shimmering ivory one-shoulder gown and Salma Hayek Pinault, whose husband François-Henri Pinault chairs Gucci parent company Kering, in glittering red to Kim Kardashian, continuing her longstanding relationship with Demna stretching to Balenciaga, in a body-hugging burgundy sequined number.
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Candice Swanepoel, Emily Ratajkowski and Amber Valletta leaned into sensuality: Swanepoel in a revealing silver embellished gown, Ratajkowski in a white cutout dress with a thigh-high slit and Valletta in a backless black gown with jeweled detailing. Elsa Hosk and Alex Consani took contrasting approaches to eveningwear, with Hosk in a strapless gray gown with a sculpted waist and Consani in a voluminous black ballgown. Quenlin Blackwell opted for strapless black leather, while Jordyn Woods-Towns wore fitted chocolate-brown lace and Alix Earle shimmered in a plunging silver fringed creation. Parker Posey channeled Old Hollywood glamour in a silver caftan with sweeping sleeves.
Menswear was represented by the likes of Andrew Garfield, who wore a black double-breasted suit accented with a pink floral brooch, and Homer Gere, who had a contrasting look in a white tuxedo jacket paired with a black bow tie.
Then came Nicole Kidman, whose arrival in Chanel brought a fresh flurry of camera flashes. The actress wore a fitted gold-toned, long-sleeved bodice paired with a voluminous ivory tulle skirt.
She posed alongside filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, one of the evening’s honorees, before the two made their way into the cocktail reception. Inside, they stopped again for photographers, with Kidman indulging requests for a few more shots as Villeneuve headed farther into the tent.
“I’ll see you in there soon,” she told him.
The evening celebrated Villeneuve alongside artist Vija Celmins, known for her depictions of ocean surfaces, desert floors and night skies. The gala welcomed more than 600 guests from the worlds of art, film, fashion and entertainment, raising a record nearly $7 million in support of the museum’s programming.
Guests mingled over drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour, stopping for photographs and greeting familiar faces. “Looking good, sir,” artist Catherine Opie called out to restaurateur Michael Chow as they crossed paths.
Timothée Chalamet, Andrew Garfield, Anya Taylor-Joy, Al Pacino and Julia Garner were part of the crowd, alongside filmmakers Spike Jonze and Gia Coppola, artists Ed Ruscha, Mickalene Thomas and Refik Anadol, Gucci president and chief executive officer Francesca Bellettini, art dealer Larry Gagosian and museum figures including Thelma Golden, Ann Philbin and Cameron Shaw, as well as Kylie Jenner, Paris Hilton, Sofia Vergara and Emily Ratajkowski.
“Same tent, different buildings around it,” joked Michael Govan, LACMA’s CEO and Wallis Annenberg director, referencing the museum’s newly completed David Geffen Galleries, the culmination of a 20-year project.
Govan took a moment on stage to thank Gucci.
“Demna, thanks for living in Los Angeles,” he added. “We love that.”
Govan then turned his attention to Eva Chow, in an unusually personal tribute that hinted at the evening’s biggest news. A slideshow featured photographs of Chow alongside guests throughout the gala’s history, including her longtime co-chair Leonardo DiCaprio, who was MIA this year.
“This event is now our greatest fundraiser, but it’s our greatest friend raiser,” he said.
Chow, wearing a flowing white Gucci gown with feather-trimmed sleeves and hem, took the stage with an announcement: “After 15 wonderful years, this will be my final year serving as co-chair.”
She recalled visiting DiCaprio at his home to pitch him the idea of co-chairing the gala.
“He is not a person who does a lot of co-chairing for events, but I thought I would try,” she said. “He generously said yes.”
She reflected on the inaugural event, which honored Clint Eastwood and the late artist John Baldessari, with Stevie Wonder performing. Since then the gala has raised close to $60 million for LACMA.
“I leave this chapter with tremendous pride, wonderful memories and, above all, gratitude,” she said.
With Chow stepping aside, the search for a new co-chair alongside DiCaprio is already underway, according to a source.
Writer Rachel Kushner introduced Celmins and a short film offering a glimpse into her studio, which drew laughs for its candid moments.
“Why did I let them in my studio?” Celmins quipped when she took the mic.
The 88-year-old Latvian-born artist, who now lives in New York, said California’s ocean and landscape had shaped her work during her years in L.A. Before stepping offstage, she offered one final, amused assessment of the crowd.
“You guys are just crazy party people,” she said, to more laughter.
The party would continue outside later, with dessert, Don Julio cocktails served in chocolate cups and a performance by Rosé, who would give the live debut of her new single “New Trick” alongside hits including “APT.”
But first, Kidman took the stage to introduce Villeneuve, opening with a confession.
“I’m sweating, so I’m just going to disclose I have sweaty armpits,” she said disarmingly. “Let’s keep it real here.”
The actress, who had flown 15 hours from attending the repeat Chanel cruise show in Australia for the occasion, spoke of her admiration for the Canadian filmmaker.
“Somehow I feel like I know the deepest parts of him because that is what extraordinary filmmakers do,” she said. “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 returned the admiration, singling out Kidman’s performance in the 2004 film “Birth,” particularly a scene he described as “one of the most powerful shots I have ever seen.” He also shared how a James Turrell exhibition at LACMA had inspired his approach to “Arrival.”
“Every time I walk into one, I feel like a vampire,” he said of museums. “I suck in the energy from the walls.”
Villeneuve ended on a playful note. With the director set to helm the next James Bond film, he teased that he was about to reveal who would take on the iconic role. Phones went up around the room as the film’s producer, Amy Pascal, looked on.
“The actor who will play the next James Bond is…” he began, before stopping cold.
“I will stop right now because Amy Pascal is about to have a heart attack.”
Launch Gallery: Inside the 2026 LACMA Art + Film Gala Party: Photos
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