THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (MOCA) ANNOUNCES MOCA GALA 2026
HONORING MOCA LEGENDS EUGENIO LÓPEZ ALONSO, PAUL MCCARTHY, KARA WALKER
CONCEIVED BY PIERO GOLIA
PRESENTED BY MARIA SEFERIAN
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2026
THE GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY AT MOCA
(L to R): Eugenio López Alonso, photo by Ana Hop; Paul McCarthy, photo by Mara McCarthy; Kara Walker, photo by Ari Marcopoulos
LOS ANGELES–The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is pleased to announce its annual Gala on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Little Tokyo. For the second year in a row, MOCA will honor three new MOCA Legends, recognizing these visionary individuals for their commitment to the museum’s legacy and continued growth. Honorees for 2026 are artists Kara Walker and Paul McCarthy, and philanthropist and longtime MOCA Trustee Eugenio López Alonso, whose contributions have played a vital role in solidifying MOCA as a global leader in contemporary art. The special evening will feature dynamic elements conceived by artist Piero Golia and is underwritten and generously supported by Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus Maria Seferian, with Stephen Galloway serving as the evening’s host and Laila Gohar as guest chef in collaboration with Chris Kronner. Funds raised through the MOCA Gala provide support to all museum programs, staff, and operations.
"You cannot tell MOCA's story without artists like Paul McCarthy and Kara Walker, or trustees and philanthropists like Eugenio López Alonso. Their impact is embedded in nearly 50 years of MOCA's history, and the museum's place at the forefront of contemporary art today is a direct reflection of what they have built alongside us," said Carolyn Clark Powers, Chair of the MOCA Board of Trustees.
“We’re thrilled to honor these three extraordinary individuals in a year that marks great significance for the museum, highlighted by the landmark success of the historic MONUMENTS exhibition,” said Ann Goldstein, MOCA’s Interim Maurice Marciano Director. “It is a tremendous privilege to recognize the remarkable contributions of Kara Walker, who served as the exhibition's co-curator, and to celebrate the museum’s recent acquisition of Walker’s extraordinary and epic sculpture Unmanned Drone (2023), which is at the core of MONUMENTS. We’re also proud to recognize and celebrate Paul McCarthy, a towering artist of profound influence who is part of the museum’s DNA, including numerous exhibitions from Helter Skelter: L.A. Art in the 1990s, to his acclaimed solo survey exhibition in 2000. Audacious, profound, and lauded exhibitions at MOCA like these–as well as numerous works in the collection– would not be possible without the visionary, generous support of Eugenio López Alonso, who joined the board in 2005 and propels MOCA’s vision and mission forward in his current role as Vice-Chair.”
Throughout the Gala evening on May 30, MOCA will welcome artists, philanthropists, and leading entertainment and fashion industry figures from Los Angeles and worldwide. The 2026 Gala is conceived by Los Angeles-based artist Piero Golia, renowned as a “sculptor of situations.” Hosted by Stephen Galloway, the evening promises to transcend the typical museum gala experience, intertwining familiar elements—cocktails, speeches, musical performances, and dinner—into a captivating narrative filled with unexpected delights and wonder. Guests will savor culinary creations by Laila Gohar, who will curate food and visual storytelling to create an unforgettable dining experience.
To purchase a table or seats, make a donation, and for more information, please contact gala@moca.org or visit moca.org/gala2026.
CONTINUED IN FULL RELEASE