Arty or party? The stars divide at MOCA’s 30th birthday
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The transformative power of art has nothing on the transformative power of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie -- who turned L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art’s 30th anniversary gala into a contender for social event of the decade Saturday night.
MOCA trustees and tons of bold names stepped out for shmoozing and a much-hyped performance art piece from Francesco Vezzoli, the center of which was Lady Gaga unveiling her new single ‘Speechless.’
We were mostly speechless over the sheer star presence, like at Grey Goose vodka’s pre-ceremony cocktail hour -- where Guy Ritchie worked the room solo swilling a martini, French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld pouted and Kate Beckinsale allowed passers-by to watch as she radiated insane beauty.
Below the bash’s elevated bar was the heavily curated anniversary art collection, which required, before viewing, that any booze be checked at the door. Quelle horreur!
The brave names ditching their bubbly for art’s sake: Chloe Sevigny, Eva Mendes, Zoe Saldana, Diablo Cody,Neil Patrick Harris and James Franco.
Those who preferred to stay on the surface to sip?
Marisa Tomei, Shirley Manson, Pharrell Williams, Beckinsale and husband Len Wiseman, k.d. lang, Brett Ratner, Shia LaBeouf‘s new gal pal Carey Mulligan, and Rachel Zoe with husband Rodger Berman.
Brangelina’s presence claimed most of the whisper traffic, with word buzzing around the party that the pair got an exclusive Friday viewing of Gaga and company rehearsing Vezzoli’s work.
The lady herself hit the stage in a Swarovski-adorned white evening gown by Miuccia Prada and a Frank Gehry-designed headpiece, before changing into a simple black shift to dine with David LaChapelle (and dine she did, removing her poker face to dig into some coq au vin). And in true Gaga form, showcasing art-within-art-within-art, collaboratorJonas Akerlund followed her all night with a camera crew to document the journey to MOCA.
After the gala, actor Joaquin Phoenix and designer sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte hosted a gathering for supporters at West Hollywood’s new Prism Gallery, where the likes of Tom Ford, Sienna Miller and restaurateur Harry Morton were part of a packed house.
-- Matt Donnelly
Additional dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip’s Division of Fabulous Parties:
Francesco Vezzoli escorts Lady Gaga to MOCA
Photo gallery: Celebs on the MOCA red carpet
Photo gallery: On the scene at MOCA’s bash
Lady Gaga premieres ‘Bad Romance,’ in which she disrobes
Tuning in for some face time with Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga brings ‘Gossip Girl’ some ‘Bad Romance’
Stylish links approved by the Ministry of Gossip:
A fashionable turnout to MOCA’s 30th
Marc Jacobs and Rodarte at New York Fashion Week
Tom Ford tux part of Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ fashion comeback
Why’s everyone hating on Angelina Jolie?
In today’s forecast: Angelina, Hugh, Barack and Bender the Futurama robot