Back in 1996, current Oscar nominee Jeffrey Wright played cutting edge artist Jean Michel Basquiat in Julian Schnabel’s movie, “Basquiat.”
So Wright — so praised for his work 28 years later in “American Fiction” — wasn’t going to miss the opening of an important new Basquiat exhibition called “Made on Market Street” at the Gagosian Beverly Hills gallery.
He wasn’t alone among the stars who turned up to see the sensational collection of paintings at the gallery.
Sacha Baron Cohen turned up with Guy Oseary on their way to Madonna’s big show downtown. For a while, Chris Rock joined them. They got an earful from East Hampton artist Bill Quigley, who was Basquiat’s pal and competitor in the 1980s.
The Gagosian Gallery filled up pretty fast even though it’s a huge space on North Camden Drive. Several hundred people queued up for entry and were still waiting until we left at 8pm.
In the meantime, familiar faces like Jane Fonda, Melanie Griffith, jewelry designer Loree Rodkin, Wendi Deng Murdoch, director Bennett Miller, artist Andy Moses, “Rustin” movie producer David Permut, entrepreneur Nikki Haskell, and lots of beautiful art world types were among those who gazed at Basquiat’s sometimes violent, always witty, takes on his tough world. (I could go back 5 times, they were so magnificent!)
The whole gang moved on to dinner next door at Mr. Chow’s, hosted by Michael Chow himself in paint splattered pants.
Others — like yours truly — headed off to dinner at the very hot spot, sleekly modern and cozy Steak 48 on Wilshire Boulevard, where carnivores are now waiting patiently for reservations to dine on steak that’s like buttah. Recently spotted there in the main table having a power dinner: former CBS chief Les Moonves hosting legendary sportscaster Al Michaels, another former CBS chief Jeff Sagansky, and one time MGM CEO Harry Sloan.
