Harper’s Bazaar Celebrates the Launch of the Art Issue with Star-Studded Dinner

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Who better to celebrate a magazine issue dedicated to art than a room full of artists?

On Wednesday night in L.A, Harper's Bazaar editor-in-chief Samira Nasr held an intimate dinner at Sotheby’s. The guest list, which ranged across creative genres, included everyone from businesswoman Tina Knowles (aka Beyoncé and Solange Knowles’ mother) to BlacKkKlansman actor Laura Harrier.

The lively affair saw creatives gathering to share stories or catch up with old friends. In one corner, Knowles was seated next to a pregnant Melina Matsoukas (who was one of the directors of Beyoncé’s Lemonade film). Meanwhile, in another, Harrier cozied up next to artist Lauren Halsey and fashion editor Yashua Simmons.

The party was held in honor of Bazaar's Art Issue, released annually in December/January. This year's edition showcased singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey on the cover and featured profiles on other groundbreaking artists, from sculptor and activist Halsey to fashion designer Torishéju Dumi.

All of these high-profile guests were met by a surprise from Nasr, who introduced a personal element to the event. As they were seated, the attendees found “holiday crackers” on their plates—not salty palette cleansers, but cardboard tubes with hidden surprises inside. Harkening back to a longstanding family tradition, Nasr instructed her guests to cross arms before dessert and pop each other’s crackers. Everyone was met with tiny goodies, ranging from paper crowns and mini games to hidden jokes and toys.

It was a playful occasion that perfectly encapsulated Nasr’s vision for the Harper's Bazaar brand, which she emphasized in an interview with The Washington Post back in 2021: “I just want to bring more people with me to the party.” And as she said in her editor’s letter for the Art Issue: “Art can be something someone makes, but it can also be something we all get to share, a way to better understand ourselves and one another.”

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