Tastemakers Celebrate the Opening of the L.A. Modernism Show

The 27th annual Los Angeles Modernism Show & Sale kicked off on Friday, April 25, with a splashy gala at the 3Labs event space in Culver City. The fête attracted a Whitman’s Sampler of luminaries from the worlds of design, entertainment, and fashion. The assorted swells surveyed the enticing wares of dealers from across the country as they raised funds for the evening’s beneficiary, P.S. Arts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to arts education for children.

Among the standout booths was the presentation by Lisa Bowles of Roark Antiques and Design, who schlepped in a fantastically decadent Willy Rizzo sectional sofa from her home base in New York. “I’m trying very hard to love faux fur,” she said, referring to the new upholstery treatment on the Rizzo piece.

Designer Peter Dunham was spotted loitering around the Reform Gallery stand, intently scrutinizing owner Gerard O’Brien’s extraordinary mix of California modern classics and oddities. “Just looking, just looking,” Dunham insisted as he scribbled notes on a card.

The opening-night guest list included *Modern Family’*s Julie Bowen, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, Ben McKenzie (the adorable lad from The O.C. and Southland) , producer Joel Silver, media- and art-world potentates Bill and Maria Bell, fashion maven Trina Turk, and a smorgasbord of Million Dollar Decorators.

To learn more about P.S. Arts or to donate, visit psartrg .