Hammer Museum’s Gala in the Garden to Honor Darren Star, Betye Saar

Hammer Museum is readying the garden for its annual gala.

The Westwood institution has zeroed in on veteran TV creator Darren Star and notable artist Betye Saar as honorees for the 21st annual Gala in the Garden, set to take place on May 2. The event, Hammer’s largest fundraiser, “honors artists and innovators who have made profound contributions to society through their work,” per the museum. It does so in front of local artists, collectors, patrons, celebrities and other art world insiders. Last year’s raised $2.4 million for the museum.

The honorees come to the Hammer as Emmy Award-winning Star is riding high on the success of his Emily in Paris for Netflix while Saar is about to turn 100 years old.

“Betye Saar and Darren Star are two visionaries whose work has profoundly shaped the cultural and art landscape, and we could not be more honored to recognize them at this year’s Gala in the Garden,” said Hammer Museum director Zoë Ryan. “Betye is one of the most impactful artists ever to come out of Los Angeles. Celebrating her 100th birthday this year, her legacy of groundbreaking art is truly unrivaled. Through his creation of culture-defining television shows, including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, Sex and the City, and Emily in Paris, Darren’s creative storytelling has resonated with global audiences. Both honorees represent the vital importance of supporting the arts during a time where arts are more vital than ever.”

Star and Saar join a roster of past honorees that includes Jane Fonda, Lauren Halsey, Hilton Als, Laurie Anderson, Margaret Atwood, John Baldessari, Mark Bradford, Judy Chicago, Joan Didion, Ava DuVernay, Dave Eggers, Charles Gaines, Frank Gehry, Robert Gober, Matt Groening, Todd Haynes, Diane Keaton, Mike Kelley, Barbara Kruger, Tony Kushner, Glenn Ligon, Paul McCarthy, Joni Mitchell, Catherine Opie, Jordan Peele, Lari Pittman, Miuccia Prada, Charles Ray, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman, Chase Strangio, Kara Walker and Alice Waters.

Star, who is on the board of advisors at the Hammer where he endowed a gallery in his name, has an impressive list of TV credits that includes Beverly Hills, 90210, Sex and the City, Melrose Place, Younger and more.

Saar is known as an artist who focuses her creativity on African American identity, spirituality, politics and the connectedness between cultures. Saar, who received a bachelor of arts degree from UCLA in 1949, began her career at 35. She is credited with the assemblage the Liberation of Aunt Jemima in 1972. Her work is held in numerous private collections and more than 90 public institutions. She received honors at LACMA’s Art+Film gala in 2019.

Exhibitions on view at the time of the Gala in the Garden will include Arthur Jafa: The White Album; Five Centuries of Works on Paper: The Grunwald Center at 70; Several Eternities in a Day: Form in the Age of Living Materials; SPACE IS THE PLACE: Selections from the Hammer Contemporary Collection; and Hammer Projects: Mike Cloud.