Mad for Murakami

NEW YORK—Throwing a party? An ARTINFO tip: If you headline it with an artist known as the Andy Warhol of Japan, an iconic fashion designer who is the creative director of another illustrious design house in addition to having his own line, and a chart-topping celebrity rap star, chances are it'll be one of the hottest parties of the year.

Last week the Brooklyn Museum did just that, hosting a big gala to kick off Takashi Murakami's new exhibition at the museum, "© Murakami," which runs April 5 through July 13. The party was co-hosted by Louis Vuitton, for whom Murakami has designed a number of bags that are on sale at a special Louis Vuitton store embedded the show. Murakami also designed the cover of Kanye West's most recent album, Graduation, and West returned the favor by performing at the opening event.

The gala was star-studded, to say the least, with icons Marc Jacobs and Anna Wintour as well as models Eva Herzigova and Linda Evangelista representing the fashion world; Julian Schnabel, Richard Prince, and Frank Gehry showing that big-name artists and architects know how to party; sports stars John McEnroe and Stephon Marbury showing up to kick back; actress Kristin Davis flashing her patented smile; and even Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz getting in on the fun.

Check out the photo gallery to the left to see some of the art and antics from the event.