The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) held a lavish opening gala for its new David Geffen Galleries, a $724 million concrete building designed by architect Peter Zumthor. The event drew a constellation of artists including Jeff Koons, Ed Ruscha, Mark Bradford, Refik Anadol, Todd Gray, Do Ho Suh, and Lauren Halsey, as well as Hollywood figures like Will Ferrell and Sharon Stone. LACMA director Michael Govan hosted the evening, which featured conversations about the building's design, the interplay of light and art, and the significance of the new space for the museum's future.
The opening marks a pivotal moment for LACMA, which has faced years of controversy over Zumthor's ambitious design and the project's cost. The new galleries represent a major physical and symbolic transformation for the museum, positioning it as a forward-looking institution dedicated to serving artists and future generations. The gala's blend of art-world luminaries and celebrity attendees underscores LACMA's role as a cultural hub in Los Angeles, while the building itself—described by artists as a space made for them—signals a renewed commitment to showcasing contemporary and historical art in a landmark architectural setting.