The Art of Elysium’s 2024 Heaven Gala Returns For Its 25th Anniversary

As if still riding the high of the holiday season, sequins and metallics were the unspoken dress code for Saturday night’s The Art of Elysium’s 2024 Heaven Gala. Returning for the first time since 2020 after a pandemic-induced pause, founder Jennifer Howell and supporters of the organization were gleefully celebrating the non-profit’s 25th anniversary, many guests in the room having been volunteers or otherwise tied to its initiatives for more than a decade.

As with past galas, an honoree is tasked with curating their version of “heaven,” and for the evening, Visionary award winner, writer, and director Neil Gaiman transformed the Wiltern concert hall into a historic library. The venue’s already ornate architecture lent a fitting foundation upon which to create the setting, complete with a backdrop of bookshelves set behind presenters and performers on stage and throughout the room, aged books, faux scrolls, and libra scales made for on-theme and not-your-usual tablescape.

The program and dinner opened with a reading of Dr. Seuss’ Oh The Places You’ll Go from Shanola Hampton, spearheading the night’s theme wherein others—Jon Hamm, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Patton Oswalt, Jason Siegel, and more—took the stage to recite words from passages they were inspired by. Presented by Howell, Amy Smart, and TV Host Carter Oosterhouse were also honored with the Spirit of Elysium Award, alongside Cara Santana, who was meant to receive the award in 2021. 

With performances from Warpaint’s Theresa Wayman, as well as Beck and Autumn Rowe, the evening just as well served as a proper awards season kick-off ahead of Golden Globes Sunday, and it was one with a charitable cause.