On February 5, stars of Hollywood, fashion, and the art world gathered for the opening night gala of the 25th annual LA Art Show, held each year at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Golden Globe-nominated actress Sofia Vergara hosted the evening, and was joined by such A-listers as Charlize Theron, Emma Roberts, Cameron Monaghan, Jared Harris, Joe Manganiello, and many others.
Highlights of the evening included live portrait art by Los Angeles-based muralist Robert Vargas, who unveiled a new mural honoring the late Kobe Bryant, and an elaborate fashion retrospective by iconic designer Sue Wong who was joined by her famous friends, E! founder Larry Namer, Sean Stone and Sofia Milos, and many others. Roaming performers from Cirque du Soleil’s Volta created a carnival-like atmosphere for the evening.
The VIP attendees were treated to a sneak peak of the year’s programming that featured over 130 galleries, museums and cultural institutions from 23 countries. Highlights included Walker Fine Art’s MC Escher Experience, featuring his complete series of his iconic self portraits, while Kazu Hiro, Oscar winner for his special effects make-up in “Bombshell,” showcased his ICONOCLASTS exhibition of larger than life sculptures of the heads of Abraham Lincoln, Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo and Jimi Hendrix .
Attendees also enjoyed the new European Pavilion section of programming, featuring over a dozen galleries, in celebration of the profound influence that European art has had on the world.
For six years, the opening night premiere party has served as a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, with a portion of proceeds from ticket sales benefitting its lifesaving mission.
Photos Courtesy of LA Art Show.
