The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) celebrated the opening of its new David Geffen Galleries with a star-studded gala that raised nearly $11.5 million. The event brought together architect Peter Zumthor, museum director Michael Govan, and a high-profile mix of Hollywood celebrities, artists, and major donors. The $720 million building, Zumthor's first major project in the United States, marks the culmination of a decades-long development process and is set to open to the public next week.
This opening represents a landmark moment for the Los Angeles cultural landscape, solidifying LACMA's position as a premier global institution. The project’s completion is significant not only for its architectural ambition and massive budget but also for its successful integration of the art world with Hollywood's elite. As one of the most expensive and high-profile museum developments in recent American history, the Geffen Galleries' debut shifts the center of gravity for the U.S. art scene toward the West Coast.