Inside Art of Elysium’s 12th Annual HEAVEN Gala and DUNDAS Fashion Show
Photography by Tasya van Ree and Tanya Akim
Every year, the night before the Golden Globes is home to Hollywood’s favorite charity event: HEAVEN. This year, The Art of Elysium honored famed photographer Michael Muller and contemporary artist Beau Dunn in a gorgeous display of fantasy, fun, and the subaquatic. Before dinner, guests entered a virtual reality and 3D-visioning experience of Michael Muller’s undersea imagination. Muller’s shark photography surrounded onlookers on a real-life scale, while Beau Dunn’s neon pieces lined a wall with angel wings and some of the artist’s famous phrases. Ketel One Botanical drinks were there to ease any shark-fearing tensions.
KRIS JENNER
Once inside, guests like Kris Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, and Jennifer Garner took their seats at a dinner prepared by Top Chef alum Shirley Chung. Art of Elysium founder Jennifer Howell took the stage to present Beau Dunn, dressed in a Berta couture gown, with the 2019 Spirit of Elysium award for almost 2 decades of dedication, generosity, and volunteer work with the charity.
When we asked Beau about how her charity work, altruism, and kindness were utmost. “For me specifically, I work with ‘Girl Talk’. It’s an art-based self-esteem workshop [through Art of Elysium] that lasts 8-weeks. This is the most meaningful because I get to bring my own art in and have young girls reflect their own expressions of it. For example, I brought in my Barbie portraits and all of the girls designed Barbie-themed T-shirts depicting their individual self-reflection. Seeing the girls’ own vision of themselves was amazing.”
Before the main course, Michael Muller accepted his 2019 Visionary award. Muller emphasized the importance of how volunteer work connects us as people.
LILLY COLLINS & BEAU DUNN
Peter Dundas of DUNDAS unveiled his D7 collection in a full fashion show with fairytale make-up design by face genius Charlotte Tilbury. Jess Hart, Chanel Iman, Georgia Fowler, Hilary Rhoda, and Maye Musk were among the runway goddesses draped in DUNDAS. Winnie Harlow closed out the show in stunning black sequin structured mini.
BACKSTAGE
The finale of the evening surprised guests with high-energy performances by Phantogram, Linda Perry, and Chuck D.
Auction items from Michael Muller's HEAVEN and previous HEAVEN’s will be available for the public to purchase starting Monday, January 7. All proceeds will go to Art of Elysium programs.
