A Night at the Museum
From Canvas to Closet, No Ticket to LA Required
Toward the end of our time in New York City, we got a little too used to having everything right at our fingertips. It was easy to stay in once it got cold, or brush off dinner because a 6 pm reservation nearby was a long shot. The things that once felt like the reason you lived there started to feel like they’d always be there, something you could just push to the following weekend.
When we started talking about moving, the idea of not having a Broadway show two subway stops away felt monumental. Living in California wasn’t lacking; it just meant a little more effort, a little more planning, a little more intention to make it happen. So for my birthday, my husband got me a membership to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). A built-in way to tap into a little culture and not get too comfortable in our backyard. Or a quick 45 minutes on the 405, in theory.
This past Saturday, we headed to the member preview of the new David Geffen Galleries. More than a decade in the making, the building cuts across Wilshire Boulevard, lifted on columns, with traffic and people moving underneath it. Inside, the city doesn’t disappear. Urban Light reflected in the glass, art layered on top, corners that keep unfolding.
The museum was impressive. Art I hadn’t seen before. We both left feeling inspired by our evening’s adventure. I couldn’t stop thinking in outfits, so I translated three of my favorite works in the new LACMA into three looks. A peek into my night, no ticket to LA required.
Francis Bacon, Three Studies of Lucian Freud
Painted in 1969, it once held the record for the highest price ever paid for a painting. Elaine Wynn, co-founder of Wynn Resorts, bought it in 2013 for a casual $142.4 million. It sat in her private collection for years, until her estate ultimately donated it to the museum.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the color and the symmetry of the three panels.
From Canvas to Closet: muted stripes, sun-washed yellow, and warm amber accessories echo the palette, grounded with an easy sandal and a suede tote.
Kees van Dongen, Dolly, the Painter’s Daughter
Tucked into the Impressionists corner, this Kees van Dongen immediately grabbed my attention. He didn’t have to look far for inspiration. His wife, Augusta Preitinger, called Guus, and his daughter, Augusta, known as Dolly, became early subjects. You can watch her grow up through his paintings, and this one, done when she was around six, leans into my favorite primary pairings.
From Canvas to Closet: bold primary hits of red and navy grounded in classic layers, finished with playful accessories that keep it a little offbeat.
Dora De Larios, Ocean Goddess
You’re instantly transported to the ocean the minute your eyes land on this Dora De Larios sculpture. She draws on ancient mythologies of powerful female figures, part of a series of three, all deeply personal. Born in Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents, she was shaped by the city around her, layering in ancient ceramic traditions from her heritage alongside the cultures and movements of Southern California.
From Canvas to Closet: shades of blue pulled straight from the water, broken up with raffia textures and vibrant beads.
Out way past my bedtime on a Saturday night, but with a full heart and a head full of ideas. An evening well planned.
See you again real soon, LACMA.
Loved this and loved getting a text from you while you were there. All the LA content is making me want to come HOME.
Evonne! Your mind was in-synch with Met! I love this so much.