Inside the Guggenheim’s Annual Dior-Filled Gala

Thursday night, Christian Dior and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum created a magical night of art, music, and fashion. The third and final celebration of the week, the gala hailed the 60th anniversary of the famed Frank Lloyd Wright–designed building, made even more spectacular for the occasion.

While Wednesday’s pre-party lured all of Manhattan’s bright young things uptown for a Champagne-fueled dance party, Thursday night marked a departure. The mature crowd donned tuxedos and gowns as they mingled under masterpieces. The second-floor gallery, where a fleet of waiters offered Champagne on silver trays, provided the first destination. Six renowned curators created Artistic License: Six Takes on the Guggenheim Collection. Each “take” consumed one level of the rotunda. On the fourth level, a group of patrons stood before Francis Bacon’s Three Studies for a Crucifixion in awed silence as they absorbed the enormous, sickening triptych, featured in Julie Mehretu’s Cry Gold and See Black. On the third level, a work formerly attributed to Jackson Pollock, a part of Richard Prince’s Four Paintings Looking Right, sparked an animated debate on the nature of authorship.

Frank Gehry, one of the night’s honorees, sat quietly on a bench with Robin Morgan, the critic credited with shaping the modern feminist movement. Surrounded by gentlemen in black tie, the architect stood out in a simple blazer and T-shirt. His blue eyes sparkled as he joked, “I don’t have nice things.”

“He doesn’t need to,” Morgan piped in. She was right, of course. Gehry revolutionized architecture with his visionary constructions, and his contributions to the field earned him countless honors including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His latest commission is the planned Guggenheim Museum in Abu Dhabi.

“Frank doesn’t remember how many buildings he’s designed,” Morgan said. “And I don’t remember how many books I’ve written.”

On the ground floor, tables were gloriously set with fragrant centerpieces and glittering silver. A feast of seafood and fine wines satisfied even the most discerning of diners. Karlie Kloss stunned in a white suit, while Charlize Theron shimmered in a black gown. Uma Thurman, Maya Hawke, and Sophia Lillis also chose Dior for the party.

In between courses, the honorees—Gehry, Peter Lawson-Johnston, Mary Sharp Cronson, and Caroline Cronson—addressed the crowd and described their close ties to the museum and its history.

After dinner, cellist Kelsey Lu snaked through the crowd as she let out hypnotic sounds from her throat and her instrument. The performance, at once experimental and classical, reflected the dual spirit of the museum. Afterward, guests indulged in New York–style cheesecake and berries before heading out into the cool November night.