Overview
LOOK25: Noir Nouveau — A Record-Breaking Night of Art, Atmosphere, and Impact
On May 25, 2025, Contemporary Calgary’s LOOK Gala returned with its most ambitious edition yet. LOOK25: Noir Nouveau, presented by MAWER, welcomed more than 1,000 guests and raised a historic $1.2 million in support of the gallery’s exhibitions and public programs.
Designed and produced by OneWest Event Design & Production, the evening marked a defining evolution for the gala — introducing, for the first time, a Gala Curator.
Acclaimed textile artist Simone Elizabeth Saunders led the creative vision.
Her concept, Noir Nouveau, reimagined the elegance of Art Nouveau through a bold and deeply personal lens — honouring strength, joy, and resilience. Simone’s authorship was not decorative; it was foundational. Every design decision flowed from her work. From the welcome experience to the lighting language, from performance curation to the layered textures of the space, the event unfolded as an extension of her artistic practice.
The Holt Renfrew VIP Dinner set the tone with an intimate, immersive atmosphere and stirring live performances by Justine Tyrell and Timothonius. Throughout dinner, guests were guided through the experience with intention, before transitioning into what would become the most successful auction in LOOK history.
Led by auctioneer Stephen Ranger, the LOOK25 Art Auction achieved $633,300 — the highest total since the gala’s inception. Highlights included a rare Jean-Paul Riopelle and significant contributions from Rogers Communications and members of Contemporary Calgary’s Board. All 74 artworks sold, underscoring both the strength of the market and the power of the room.
As the formal program concluded, the energy shifted. The Ryan Green After Party transformed the gallery into a full-scale celebration. Sister Nancy delivered a headline performance that electrified the space, followed by Juno Award–winning DJ BAMBII, the Rondel Roberts Band, and BUCCALTHEFT — closing the night with momentum that carried well past midnight.
For OneWest, LOOK25 reflects a philosophy we hold closely: fundraising events should never feel transactional. They should feel authored. They should feel aligned. When you place an artist at the centre of the experience and build the environment around their truth, the audience responds with authenticity — and generosity follows. Our role is to listen deeply, translate vision into space, and protect the integrity of the story being told.
LOOK25 reaffirmed its place as one of Calgary’s most significant cultural events — but more importantly, it demonstrated what is possible when an artist is given true creative lead within a philanthropic platform.
The result was not simply a gala.
It was a curated environment.
A shared cultural moment.
A benchmark for immersive, artist-led fundraising.
Designed and Produced by OneWest Event Design & Production
Menu Design and Catering by Concorde Catering
Floral Design by FaBLOOMosity Floral Atelier
Production Management by Black Cab Productions
Lighting by Orange Frog Productions
Video by ProShow AudioVisual
Audio by FM Systems
Construction Support by CREATE Construction Management
Photography by Phil Crozier
LOOK25 did more than raise funds. It raised expectation.
Impact
LOOK25: Noir Nouveau delivered impact far beyond a single night. The gala raised a historic $1.2 million, directly supporting Contemporary Calgary’s exhibitions and public programs, with a record-breaking $633,300 art auction and 100% of works sold.
More importantly, it shifted expectations. By centering an artist’s vision and celebrating Black excellence with authenticity, the event deepened community connection to the gallery’s mission. Guests didn’t just attend — they invested, engaged, and left as advocates.
LOOK25 didn’t just fund the future of contemporary art in Calgary. It strengthened it.
