Los Angeles showed its true colors on Oct. 15, as community nonprofit LA Commons brought the city together for the 2026 Colors of Connection gala. At the center of the affair was the newly incorporated Historic South Los Angeles Black Cultural District, which California designated as one of LA’s most culturally significant communities in December 2025.
LA Commons celebrated the designation, which happened to arrive on the 25th anniversary of the organization’s founding, and honored the Angelenos who have continued to lift up the South LA community. The 2026 honorees, recognized for excellence in community building, included artist Lauren Halsey, entrepreneur and community advocate Prophet Walker, and philanthropist and former CEO of the California Endowment Robert K. Ross.
The Locale: The Skirball Cultural Center provided the setting for the gala and reception, with the institution’s vaulted ceilings, expansive windows, and lush courtyards serving as a backdrop.
The Scene: Halsey created the evening’s atmosphere, designing the site-specific step-and-repeat to capture guests’ colorful attire. Once inside the gathering, they took in an original performance piece from choreographer, composer, and multimedia artist d. Sabela grimes, as well as a benefit auction of prints from Angeleno artists.
The Crowd: Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell served as emcee, while Halsey, Walker, and Ross were honored among the South LA artists who live and work in the new district. Additional guests included CULTURED cover artists Genevieve Gaignard and Derek Fordjour; artists Charles Gaines, Hasef, Michael Massenburg, and Lorenzo Diggins Jr.; Hollywood collectors Janine Sherman Barrois and Lyndon Barrois; art patron and creative director Beth Birkett Gibbs; LA Commons Executive Director Karen Mack; and California Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas.
Parting Gift: For those inspired by the evening’s ode to South LA’s historic creative community, the gala served as a launch for LA Commons’s inaugural art sale, which opened after the gala and includes works from a range of artists in attendance.
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