Relive the Night & Share: Click the button below to view event photos by Phil Crozier.

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY | LOOK25 Gala: Noir Nouveau

LOOK25 Gala: Noir Nouveau Raises Over $1.2 Million in Historic Support of Contemporary Calgary

Contemporary Calgary is proud to share the success of the LOOK25 Gala: Noir Nouveau, presented by MAWER. Welcoming over one thousand guests, the evening raised more than $1.2 million to support the gallery’s ambitious exhibitions and public programs.

Guests were welcomed with an intimate and elegant VIP Dinner, generously supported by returning sponsor Holt Renfrew. The dining experience was curated by Culinary Art Partner Concorde Entertainment Group, one of Calgary’s most esteemed hospitality leaders and the force behind many of the city’s favourite and award-winning restaurants. Emceed by Zoe Theodorou, the evening featured stirring live performances by Justine Tyrell and longtime collaborator Timothonius.

The LOOK25 Art Auction, generously sponsored by Heather Edwards, achieved a historic result—raising a record-breaking $633,300, the highest total in the event’s history. All 74 artworks—22 in the live auction and 52 in the silent—were sold, thanks to the incredible generosity of artists, gallerists, and collectors who donated works, and the passionate supporters who purchased them.

The live auction was our most energetic to date: nearly half of the works sold at or above fair market value, with one work by Maggie Hall reaching double its valuation. In total, the auction realized 95% of its combined fair market value—our strongest performance since LOOK began in 2014.

Among the highlights: a 1960 oil on canvas by Jean-Paul Riopelle, generously donated by board member Dr. John Lacey CM, sold for $170,000—marking the second major Riopelle work he has contributed to LOOK. Two additional historical works donated by Rogers Communications, by Christopher Pratt and William Perehudoff, sold for a combined $55,000, achieving 93% of their fair market value.

We extend our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to our outstanding auctioneer, Stephen Ranger, for leading this unforgettable white glove sale.

The festivities carried into the Ryan Green After Party, with entertainment sponsored by Cowboys Music Festival, including a showstopping performance by dancehall legend Sister Nancy. Her electrifying set, alongside performances by the Rondel Roberts Band and Jadé, filled the gallery with energy and celebration. The celebration culminated with unforgettable performances by Juno Award–winning DJ BAMBII and Calgary’s BUCCALTHEFT.

The atmosphere of the LOOK25 Gala was brought to life by local artist Simone Elizabeth Saunders, who returned to Contemporary Calgary as the inaugural LOOK Gala Curator. Saunders, whose solo exhibition u•n•i•t•y premiered at the gallery in 2021, infused the evening with her signature themes of joy, resilience, and empowerment. Her concept Noir Nouveau reimagined the elegance of Art Nouveau through a deeply personal lens, honouring her Jamaican Canadian heritage and artistic practice, she describes as “Black Nouveau.” Every detail, from performances to palette, was curated to inspire reflection, connection, and celebration.

We are also grateful to our Honorary Chairs: June Clark, Dr. John Lacey CM, and D’Arcy Levesque, who lent their distinguished support. We extend our deepest thanks to the sponsors, artists, gallerists, donors, and volunteers, whose vision and generosity made the event possible, and to the collectors who continue to shape the future of contemporary art in our city.

Since its inception in 2014, when the gallery first hosted LOOK in the then vacant Centennial Planetarium, the gala has evolved into a defining moment in Calgary’s cultural calendar. Today, events like LOOK continue to sustain and energize Contemporary Calgary’s mission to create access to contemporary art and ideas.

Thank you for your support!

Honorary Chairs

June Clark
Dr. John Lacey CM
D’Arcy Levesque

LOOK25 Gala Curator

Simone Elizabeth Saunders

Art Auction Curators

Kanika Anand
Muriel N. Kahwagi

Auctioneer

Stephen Ranger

Artists

Fiona Ackerman, Jen Aitken, Dick Averns, Ashleigh Bartlett, Jason Bartziokas, Nancy Boyd, Kevin Boyle, Billie Rae Busby, Oscar Cahén, Nathan Eugene Carson, June Clark, Heather Close and Sarah Nordean, Michael Corner, Chris Cran, Lauren Crazybull, Amy Dryer, Renée Duval, Megan Dyck, Marcel Dzama, Christian Eckart, John Eisler, Dennis Ekstedt, Rhys Douglas Farrell, Chris Flodberg, Rocio Graham, Jude Griebel, Julya Hajnoczky, John Hall, Maggie Hall, Marcia Harris, Faye HeavyShield, Alicia Henry, Jennifer Hornyak, Sharie Hunter, Geoffrey Hunter, Joshua Jensen-Nagle, Mitch Kern, Harry Kiyooka, Neshka Krusche, Bryce Krynski, Paul Kuhn, Marie Lannoo, Kenneth Lochhead, Tyler Los-Jones, Robert Marchessault, Billy McCarroll, Karin McGinn, Nate McLeod, Ron Moppett, Mark Mullin, Katie Ohe, Erik Olson, Evan Penny, William Perehudoff, Christopher Pratt, Darija S. Radakovic, Anthony Redpath, Jean-Paul Riopelle, Nick Rooney, Sylvia Safdie, Simone Elizabeth Saunders, Michael Smith, Jesse Stilwell, Cassie Suche, Han Sungpil, David Thauberger, Carl White, John Will, Mary Shannon Will, Kristine Zingeler.

Auction Contributors

Oscar Cahén Estate
Maurice Dzama
Dr. John Lacey CM
Joanne Lochhead and the Lochhead Estate
Katie Ohe
Gaëtane Verna and Daina Augaitis
Rogers Communications Collection
Tiller Wolf Art Consulting
Anonymous Private Collections