Ryan Coogler and Mary Corse to be Honored at LACMA’s Art+Film Gala
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will celebrate filmmaker Ryan Coogler and artist Mary Corse at its 14th annual Art+Film Gala on November 1.
Filmmaker Ryan Coogler and painter Mary Corse will receive accolades at the prestigious Art+Film Gala, LACMA announced Sunday. The event, co-chaired by LACMA trustee Eva Chow and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, promises a high-profile evening and marks the final gala before the museum unveils its new building designed by Peter Zumthor next spring.
The gala aims to strengthen the ties between the film and visual art communities, a mission particularly resonant in Los Angeles. Last year’s honorees were director Baz Luhrmann and artist Simone Leigh, and the event drew a constellation of stars including Blake Lively, Kim Kardashian, Laura Dern, Viola Davis, Andrew Garfield, and Sarah Paulson. Musician Charli XCX provided the evening’s entertainment.
A Record-Breaking Fundraiser
According to LACMA Director and Chief Executive Michael Govan, the 2023 event was the most successful to date, raising $6.4 million. These proceeds directly support LACMA’s programming, including expanding its film offerings, funding exhibitions, and bolstering educational initiatives.
A Legacy of Honorees
Coogler and Corse join a distinguished list of past honorees. The Art+Film Gala has previously recognized artists such as Helen Pashgian, Betye Saar, Catherine Opie, Mark Bradford, Robert Irwin, James Turrell, Barbara Kruger, David Hockney, Ed Ruscha, and John Baldessari. On the film side, previous recipients include Park Chan-wook, Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, George Lucas, Kathryn Bigelow, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, and Clint Eastwood.
Coogler’s Stellar Year
Coogler, the director behind acclaimed films like “Black Panther,” “Creed,” and “Fruitvale Station,” is experiencing a particularly successful year. His recent release, “Sinners,” a Southern-vampire horror film, has become a major box office hit. Despite a $90 million production budget, the film quickly grossed $48 million in ticket sales during its opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada, and has since exceeded $365 million worldwide.
Corse and the Light and Space Movement
Topanga-based artist Mary Corse is a prominent figure in the Southern California Light and Space movement. Her work is characterized by a constant exploration of form and materials, encompassing ceramics and acrylic on canvas. Corse is best known for her “White Light” series, which involves layering minuscule glass beads – known as microspheres – over white acrylic paint, creating a dynamic and reflective surface.
“Mary Corse has continually expanded the possibilities of painting in her exquisite works, which invite us to think deeply about the nature of perception,” Govan stated. “Ryan Coogler’s films do something equally transformative. Through masterful storytelling and visual innovation, he reframes history, redefines narratives and opens new worlds of possibility.”
The Art+Film Gala promises to be a celebration of artistic vision and cinematic achievement, reinforcing Los Angeles’s position as a global hub for both art forms.
