SF MoMA Art Bash Returns in a Big, Stylish Way

Last week in San Francisco the SF MoMa Art Bash made its triumphant return to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art after a two year long Covid hiatus. A few folks from Broke-Ass Stuart were there (including yours truly) to scope out all the cool contemporary art, local artists, avant-garde outfits, live performances, and interactive features at the event that MoMA dubs the “party of the year”.

Art Bash is one of the few nights of the year the museum is open after hours. Ticket holders were able to explore the multiple levels of the MoMA while enjoying a museum that was converted into a gigantic event space complete with several DJs, a more than decent spread of catering, live art demonstrations, teenage punk rock phenomena The Linda Lindas, and a fancy schmancy dinner. Plus there was an  art auction for all the high rollers in the house. Needless to say your author did not attend the ($3k a head) dinner and auction but I did show up at 8PM ready to party for a good cause as Art Bash is a charity event that ultimately benefits the museum. All that said, I was beyond eager to scope things out so I could report back to you, the BAS readers about what the big deal was all about.

Upon disembarking the elevator on the 5th floor, one of the first things you saw was a gigantic beaded gold curtain hung as a massive divider between the floor’s main hall and an open faced room containing a private collection of pop art. Many of the party goers used it as the perfect photo opportunity in the well lit hallway, snapping shots both standing in front of it (like the equally sparkly guests pictured above) while others dramatically walked through it. Not just placed for decoration, the shimmering wall of fringe was the first of many interactive elements for guests to enjoy at the party that night.

Local contemporary painter Kate Tova dons a hand painted ensemble to SF MoMa’s Art Bash. Photo courtesy of @kate_tova Instagram

It should come as no surprise that the fashion was fierce and abundant at the SF MoMA Art Bash. One of my favorite outfits from the soiree’ was worn by local artist Kate Tova who looked so striking in her hand painted dress and shoes I had to track her down on Instagram after the fact. Kate definitely gets my Look Of The Week, or should I say: Look Of The Event? While there were flashier pieces and more obvious designer labels abundant, Kate married the theme of art and fashion together brilliantly with her bespoke garment.

Your author, in a double ruffled sleeve latex dress and jeweled bag by Prada enjoying the contemporary art exhibits at the party

From ball gowns to Tom Ford football jerseys, vintage pieces to avant garde ensembles, the San Francisco art crowd was dressed to impress this year and the running theme of the evening seemed to be sleeves. A big trend already in 2022, over sized, flowy, fluttery, sculpted, and ruffled sleeves was the dominant silhouette of the evening and your author was both in on and in front of the trend, selecting a very avant garde looking plum colored latex dress with voluminous double ruffled sleeves by Los Angeles designer Jane Doe Latex.

Oakland based contemporary artist Sicerra pairs chunky bright platforms with a voluminous metallic olive green jumpsuit on the MoMA’s 5th floor

After taking in the bright lights and colors of the 5th floor exhibits, artworks, and outfits I then made my way outside onto the open air rooftop pavillion to where the real party was already well under way. Several bars were set up alongside multiple catered grazing stations featuring spreads of vegetarian sushi, tacos, sliders, dim sum, charcuterie, and desserts including hot churros.

The rooftop pavilion had multiple bars plus tasty snacks & treats to keep you moving and flowing all night long

Many of the guests took advantage of the layout to snap pictures alongside the sculptures and installations on the grand terrace and the 5th floor had an indoor/outdoor feel with the large glass double doors leading into the indoor lounge and dance floor areas left open for a good portion of the night. This allowed for guests to easily flow from one area to the next: snacking, chatting, dancing, ordering a drink, or enjoying the comfortable lounge furniture placed conspicuously around the rooftop. I almost felt as if I was on the TV show Four Weddings as the design and decor gave off upscale wedding reception vibes, but I digress because the space was decorated just enough and never felt too crowded.

Artist Agana painted graffiti on the MoMA derby boxcar live at the Art Bash alongside her mentor Vogue. Pic courtesy of @fewandfarwomen Instagram

The best part of the rooftop pavilion was the live graffiti painting demo by artists Agana and her mentor, legendary street artist Vogue. Known for painting box trucks in bright colors before certain hues and pigments were even made available to the public back in the day, Vogue and Agana painted the MoMA’s entry into the following Sunday’s SF MoMA Box Car Derby (which your author will cover in next week’s column) live in front of all the guests outside.

Street artist Vogue paints graffiti live on the rooftop pavilion at the SF MoMA Art Bash

Other performances were scattered around the interior of the museum including The Palms, the duo of artist Alec Soth and Dave King of popular Celtic punk band Flogging Molly and artist Michael Jang’s Black and White Box installation. Ticket holders also lined up to walk through a gigantic 360 degree kaleidoscope tunnel and posed for selfies in front of the cracked mirror installation previously pictured with your author above.

The interior dance floor space on the 5th floor where local DJs like Myles Media spun until 1AM

Despite the abundance of art on display, the 5th floor lounge was definitely the place to be that evening. With a light up dance floor, plush seating area, and head to head battle from DJs Myles Media and RCADE, a mix of 90’s, 00’s, hip hop, top 40, cumbia, + more was played while guests enjoyed specialty themed drinks created just for the event.

The light up dance floor was on fire all night long. Photo courtesy of @LeBohemianMuse Instagram

City style was everywhere at Art Bash

Gina Schock of the Go Gos sits in with The Linda Lindas. Pic courtesy @realginaschock Instagram

Your author’s favorite part of the night was seeing headliners The Linda Lindas, the teenage punk band famous for going viral for song “Racist Sexist Boy“, who were also celebrating their album release that night by playing a set on the 1st floor of the museum. The pint sized punk rockers were not only surprisingly talented but also surprisingly stylish, and speaking of surprises – towards the end of their 17 song set the girls were joined onstage by Bay Area local and The Go Go’s drummer Gina Schock for their hit song “Tonite”.

Lucia and The Linda Lindas both looked and sounded fantastic

The SF MoMA Art Bash was an event for all the senses and there was something there for everyone that night. Your author is already looking forward to (and planning her outfit for) next year!

The grand staircase leading up from The Linda Linda’s 1st floor performance

Exhausted and happy at the end of the 2022 Art Bash