Subscribe Now

Search
April 30, 2018

SFMOMA + The Modern Ball

Sonya Yu
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Randi Fisher
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Marissa Mayer and Zachary Bogue
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Vanessa Getty
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Andrew Gn and Carolyn Chang
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Komal Shah
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Chrisa Pappas
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Raphaela Lipinsky and John Fisher
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Maria Manetti Shrem
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Dominique Crenn
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Sergey Brin and Nicole Shanahan
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
Lexie Fisher George
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography
The atmosphere at SFMOMA Modern Ball 2018
Photos by Jessica Monroy for Drew Altizer Photography

More than two thousand art lovers celebrated the tenth biannual San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) Modern Ball on Wednesday, April 25, with a lively gala dinner, a tropical-themed Supper Club and dancing—to live performances by four bands—that continued long past midnight. The Grammy-nominated Swedish electro-pop ensemble Little Dragon headlined the multi-tier party, which had been sold out for months.

The theme of the evening was “Make a Statement.” Party planner extraordinaire Stanlee Gatti created the dinner decor with 4,000 yards of cotton, silk-screened with psychedelic Marimekko-inspired flowers in bold red and yellow. Vivid yellow daisies decorated the tables. “It’s time to revive Marimekko,” Gatti said. “It’s simple and graphic and it always makes people happy.”

Paris-based fashion designer Andrew Gn, in town for his popular trunk show, was accompanied Carolyn Chang, glamorous in Givenchy couture. “The women guests look great tonight,” Gn said. “It’s full-on fashion. I’m very happy to be part of this popular fundraiser.”

Also in attendance were notables including O.J. Shansby in Chanel Couture, Vanessa Getty in Libertine, and Komal Shah, who wore an Oscar de la Renta gown embroidered with abstract motifs inspired by a painting by her favorite artist, Pat Steir.

Museum director Neal Benezra thanked patrons and donors for their generosity, and noted that the millions raised by the gala would make it possible for thousands of students to visit the museum each year. “Our recent studies show that most visitors to SFMOMA are under thirty-five,” said Benezra, adding that theirs is a much younger crowd than those of most museums in the U.S. and abroad.

Michelin-starred San Francisco chef Dominique Crenn donated a private dinner for 26 guests to the lively auction. This was so popular that two dinners were offered, to the tune of $200,000 each. A dramatic Ellsworth Kelly painting, Red-Orange Relief, was auctioned for $3 million to a phone bidder.

Among the guests in a party mood were Chuck and Helen Schwab, Doris Fisher, Randi and Robert Fisher, Charlotte and George Shultz, Gretchen and John Berggruen, Sergey Brin with Nicole Shanahan, Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom, Vanessa Getty, Allison Spear, O.J. and Gary Shansby, Riccardo Benavides, Marissa Mayer and Zachary Bogue, Sabrina Buell and Yves Béhar, Evan and Sara Williams, Maria Manetti Shrem and Jan Shrem, Victoire Reynal Brown, and Alex Chases and Jane Mudge.

Written by Diane Dorrans Saeks

Email This To A Friend
Share With Your Friend

Please wait...

Thanks for sharing!
A link to this gallery has been sent

There was a problem. Please try again.

Please complete all the fields in the form before sending.