Top Ten: Back to Black at MOCA's 2013 Gala

Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art is no stranger to controversy — with the 2012 departure of chief curator Paul Schimmel and rumors that billionaire art collector Eli Broad is increasingly calling the shots, among the squabbles. But at the museum's annual Gala last weekend, there was nary a hint of trouble as L.A. art, culture and design luminaries headed downtown to celebrate the opening of Swiss artist Urs Fischer's new show, a 65,000 square-foot spectacular curated by the Tate Modern's Jessica Morgan. While the party itself was drama-free (unless you count live goats and the USC marching band as drama), the fashion marched to a decidedly unique beat with a barrage of black outfits replacing colorful frocks usually standard of springtime affairs. Guests including China Chow, Ellen Pompeo, Stephanie Seymour and Liz Goldwyn all put their own spin on sophisticated black outfits, which coincidentally fit in with Fischer's sculptures of "lazy skeletons." Whether purposeful or not, the morbid color palette worked, and provided an oddly fresh take on a season known for colors. “Urs Fischer” is on view through Aug. 19 at MOCA Grand Avenue and the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA; moca.org.