Jane Fonda Teams With Gallerist Larry Gagosian for Art Sale That Takes on Big Oil
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“When Jane Fonda calls, you show up,” explained John Legend, tickling the ivories in front of a large crowd of glittery art lovers, environmentalists and celebs. “Wouldn’t you?”
The large artist, art collector and celeb crowd mingling in the white chandelier-strewn tent behind Gagosian Gallery made it pretty clear they not only would, but did. Fonda, along with gallerist Larry Gagosian and Christie’s, organized the evening, titled “Art For a Safe and Healthy California” — an art sale to support California’s grassroots fight against Big Oil, in an attempt to protect neighborhoods from toxic oil drilling. With so many years of activism and fundraising dedicated to feminist, pacifist and environmental issues — organizing, fundraising, holding benefits, walkouts, protests, not to mention getting arrested four times — Jane Fonda is now going up against Big Oil.
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Nothing the lifelong rights fighter can’t handle, of course.
“What’s more important than the destruction of our planet?” Fonda, in a tailored sky blue suit, told The Hollywood Reporter, with fierce determination. “Almost 3 million people have been exposed to oil wells, getting really sick. Luckily, we have the first governor of California who’s had the guts to stand up to Big Oil: Senate Bill 1137, signed September 2022, prevents new oil wells from being 3,200 feet from homes, schools and parks. Now Big Oil is putting it on pause, trying to repeal/overturn it with a referendum that qualified for the November ballot — well, that’s not Democratic. It’s egregious.
“They spent $20 million to acquire repeal petition signatures by scaring people: ‘Your gas prices are going to go up!’ It’s such deceptive language,” she continued. “People don’t realize how much they could be harmed by nearby oil wells polluting air and water. The oil companies are telling outright lies for profits — but this is California! We can beat them. My friend Larry Gagosian has been amazing. He sent letters to artists to get them onboard, he made phone calls, he really cares. This is his home state.”
Hosts of the sold-out benefit with Fonda and Gagosian were Aileen Getty, Democratic donors Susie and Mark Buell, along with co-hosts Edythe Broad, Frank Gehry, Sean Penn, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, and Eric and Wendy Schmidt. Others committed on a large scale to the cause, including outdoor retailer Patagonia and a coalition of environmental groups. But why an art sale to take on state politics? Stars can be loud and proud on environmentalism, but artists usually take it up silently in their work.
“We wanted this to come out as a one-two punch,” explained Fonda. “The March 22 announcement of our campaign with Governors Newsom and Arnold Schwarzenegger standing together had to be followed up by this, we wanted to do it quickly. Honestly, I’d never done an art auction. If I’d had an idea of how complicated it was, I probably wouldn’t have done it. We didn’t have a lot of time. Luckily, the first person I went to was Ed Ruscha, because I knew him, and he said yes. That gave me the courage.”
Again, can anyone really say no to Jane Fonda?
“A few people did, yes,” she admitted. “Some artists were in the middle of a show, they didn’t have time. But once Ed said yes, he referred me to other artists. One by one, I went to their studios and it came together. Over time.”
It didn’t happen in a vacuum. “We formed an art-getting committee,” Gagosian Beverly Hills director Deborah McLeod explained. “We invited colleagues from other galleries to help us approach their artists, we weren’t trying to do a strictly Gagosian sale. We wanted it more community-facing. We accrued 40 works of art, 14 of which are here in the tent. Seven will go to Christie’s for auction later this spring, some can be sold tonight. Then there will be a selling exhibition upstairs here in June and July.”
Catherine Opie, one of the 14 artists with works on sale — alongside Ed Ruscha, Alex Israel, Frank Gehry, Christina Quarles, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Kenny Scharf, Hank Willis Thomas, Charles Gaines, Mary Quinn, Karon Davis, Marilyn Minter and Jonas Wood — recalled, “I sat in Jane’s living room, maybe nine months ago, after she asked me over. I knew immediately what I wanted to give her: one of ‘The Swamps’ series, photographs of Southern swamps. Trump always uses this derogatory language, ‘Drain the swamp’ – but swamps are actually really important to the environment.”
Painter Quarles said, “a big part of my painting practice now is painting on paper, a series I’m working on. I made this piece specifically for this, for it to be new and fresh — the first piece I made in my new studio. It motivated me to get back in the studio and work!”
Artist Quinn broke down big oil’s danger to a basic level: “They’re burning oil into the air, releasing toxins into water. This brings focus onto women in communities of color — they can have difficult pregnancies, then they give birth to children with birth defects. A child can grow up with respiratory problems, which can lead to asthma, which can lead to cancer. Newsom’s bill wants to keep these oil wells away from living areas. Big oil always targets low-income communities. No person in California, in America, should live under these conditions.
“That’s why I was happy to give a work, to raise the money to pay for TV ads against their referendum,” he continued. “We need people to come out, understand and vote no. Big oil does not have a problem committing murder, it’s as simple as that. But we’re also living in a time when artists can come together with environmental activists to get the word out. That’s why it’s important we stay collectively optimistic. We have to utilize our voices.”
In this crowd, supporting a cause also means going glam. And why not? The early evening began with a sun-strewn champagne meet-and-greet on Gagosian Gallery’s Camden Drive rooftop, replete with a fully stocked caviar bar, with passed hors d’oeuvres of dainty arancini and baby latkes. The soigné crowd was thrilled to show off its early spring-summer finery on the first truly warm night after a long chilly rain season: Legend donned an ocean blue suit, wife Teigen was resplendent in a mother of pearl satin gown. Lots of ladies sported brand new summer whites for the first time this season — and summer blacks and whites, with that proof-of-L.A. summer: alabaster Chanel bags. While most gentlemen sported the local casual cocktail party standard of dark suits, tees and trainers, others flaunted colorful tailored suits, albeit with T-shirts and trainers. Quinn’s blue Givenchy suit and white tee showed off the artist’s love of color, “plus blue is environmentally correct!” he joked.
When Gagosian arrived on the roof, he was swarmed with well-wishers and clients like collector pal Beth DeWoody and son Carlton DeWoody, Chelsea Handler, Maria Shriver and Mary Steenburgen. You can bet the man’s sold art to many in an assemblage like this: Penn, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, Michael and Vanessa Chow, LACMA’s Michael Govan and Katherine Ross, Derek Blasberg, Catherine Keener, Jamie Tisch, interior designer Michael Smith and husband, former ambassador to Spain James Costos, art collectors Irving and Jackie Blum, Bill and Maria Bell, Ambassador Colleen Bell, Carolyn Powers, Maria Seferian and MOCA director Johanna Burton.
“It’s rare for Larry to show up at these events,” explained Deb McLeod. “So when he’s here, it’s something special. With 19 galleries around the world, he can’t be everywhere. Larry’s careful what he does; our clients are on the full political spectrum. But California is his home state, his hometown; he understands the seriousness of this issue. He came into town especially for this — he’s been close to Jane for 40 years.”
“Yes, Jane has been a great friend for over 40 years,” Gagosian reiterated in a statement. “She’s an icon of the American cultural landscape. I’ve always admired her activism; when she brought this urgent David versus Goliath cause to my attention, I didn’t hesitate. It’s an honor to partner with her on this crucial issue impacting my home state, a must-win in November. I’m incredibly grateful to the generous artists helping us ensure a safe and healthy California for generations to come.”
When the crowd moved down to the first-floor performance tent, after DJ Zuri Marley’s set, both Gagosian, then Fonda, took to the stage, giving shout-outs to Mayor Karen Bass in the crowd. Fonda then introduced environmental crusaders Nalleli Cobo, Dr. Lorenzo Gonzalez, Chris Lehman, and an impassioned Teigen and Wendy Schmidt — the latter of whom contributed $5 million with her husband, Eric.
Legend closed out the evening musically with some of his rather theme-poignant tunes: “Redemption Song,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “All of Me” and “Wonder Woman.”
All told, the evening raised $17 million out of its hoped-for $20 million — with more months of art sales to go. Works sold Tuesday were Phosflorescence II (2021) by Francesca Gabbiani, Untitled (Skull) (2023) by Mark Grotjahn, Soda Pop (2017) by Marilyn Minter, Untitled #1 (Swamps) (2019) by Catherine Opie and UPS DOWNS (2023) by Ed Ruscha.
“We won’t stop till November,” promised McLeod. “We’ll continue to be feeding the campaign all the way through the election.”
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