Bouquets to Art Gala Brings Together San Francisco's Elite

Annual floral exhibition at de Young Museum features high-fashion, celebrity sightings, and $5,000 cakes.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:24am by Ben Kaplan

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The author attended the opening night of the 42nd annual Bouquets to Art exhibition at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, where they mingled with the city's elite, including fashion curators, personal stylists, and a Mars scientist, while indulging in a $5,000 edible work of art.

Why it matters

Bouquets to Art is a longstanding tradition that brings together San Francisco's high society for an evening of art, fashion, and exclusive access. The event highlights the city's thriving creative community and the de Young Museum's role in cultivating cultural experiences for the local elite.

The details

The author attended the opening night of Bouquets to Art, an annual floral exhibition at the de Young Museum that features botanical interpretations of the museum's permanent collection. The event drew a crowd of well-heeled San Franciscans, including fashion curator Laura Camerlengo, personal stylist Annie Shiau, and philanthropist Dede Wilsey. The author also encountered City College of San Francisco students who created wearable floral garments inspired by the museum's art, as well as a Mars scientist, Erika DeBenedictis, who discussed interplanetary botany. The highlight of the evening was a $5,000 cake created by Jamie Li, which the author described as a 'glorious' edible work of art.

  • The 42nd annual Bouquets to Art exhibition ran in early March 2026.
  • The opening night event that the author attended took place on March 28, 2026.

The players

Laura Camerlengo

The de Young Museum's curator in charge of costume and textile arts.

Annie Shiau

A personal stylist known for her signature large glasses and unique handbag designs.

Dede Wilsey

A prominent San Francisco philanthropist and socialite.

Cece Chen, Anna Jiang, and Brianna Ang

A team of City College of San Francisco students who created a wearable floral garment inspired by a de Young Museum artwork.

Erika DeBenedictis

A biological engineer from MIT who runs a nonprofit called Pioneer Labs, engineering microbes to grow things on Mars.

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What they’re saying

“Great parties for me need conversation that goes somewhere unexpected, and they need to feel like you're both the audience and the show. Bouquets to Art was a great party.”

— Saul Sugarman, Editor-in-Chief and Owner, The Bold Italic

“It tasted glorious, of course. The frosting was reminiscent of a London Fog but with a San Francisco twist.”

— Jamie Li, Cake Designer

The takeaway

Bouquets to Art showcases San Francisco's vibrant arts and fashion community, bringing together the city's elite for an evening of high-end floral displays, exclusive access, and unexpected conversations. The event highlights the de Young Museum's role in cultivating cultural experiences for the local upper class.