We are deeply saddened to announce that LACMA Board Co-chair Elaine Wynn, among the most generous and supportive leaders in the museum’s history, passed away. Elaine's life accomplishments are well known, from building Wynn Resorts in Las Vegas into one of the highest quality and most respected businesses in the nation to her ambitious philanthropy in the arts and education.

Elaine was one of LACMA’s biggest champions, offering the first landmark contribution to our new building for the collection after deep engagement and study, interrogating the purpose and the practicalities of our proposal, and traveling to visit numerous of Peter Zumthor's buildings before meeting him in his studio in Haldenstein, Switzerland. Her due diligence was matched only by her encouragement of others to join her in supporting LACMA, and her willingness to take on a leadership role as Co-chair of the museum’s board.

So many have marvelled at Elaine's relentless energy in business, arts, and philanthropy. By the time she joined LACMA, Elaine had already developed a passionate long-term commitment to improving children’s lives through education, including her leadership as Chair and contributions to Communities in Schools (CIS), and her service in various leadership roles at local, state, and national levels. She built a major art collection for Wynn Resorts and another for herself, part of which she hoped to share with the public in the future. She also served as a trustee of the Kennedy Center and supported Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Her support for LACMA included her early contribution to the sculpture Levitated Mass by fellow Nevadan Michael Heizer. Through LACMA she has also helped nurture and steward Heizer's epic City project in the Nevada desert. Most recently, Elaine launched a new effort to create an art museum in Las Vegas, the largest city in America without one. That museum project, now being planned by Burkina Faso/Berlin–based architect Francis Kéré, was launched last year with Las Vegas City and Nevada State commitment, and with LACMA's partnership.

“We owe so much to Elaine, and also to our trustees Bobby Kotick and Carole Bayer Sager who introduced her to LACMA,” said Michael Govan, LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director. “Personally I feel eternally blessed to have been able to work with Elaine and learn so much from her ambition, leadership, tenacity, and love. Our hearts are with Elaine, and her family, especially her daughters Gillian and Kevyn, and her seven grandchildren.”

LACMA's new David Geffen Galleries will be one visible celebration of her legacy as we designate and name the entire northern half of our new galleries as the Elaine P. Wynn Wing.