The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is holding its 50th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, April 18 at 6 p.m.

Museum representatives will announce eight promised gifts of art from benefactors Jane and Marc Nathanson that will be displayed during the museum’s “50 for 50: Gifts on the Occasion of LACMA’s 50th Anniversary” exhibit.

The exhibit runs from Sunday, April 26 through Sept. 7.

“I hope these gifts will inspire others to make significant contributions in the form of artwork as we look forward not only to the 50th anniversary of the museum, but to the next 50 years,” Jane Nathanson said.

“I can’t wait for this spring, when these and other gifts will be on view in a special anniversary exhibition at the museum, which we’ll celebrate in high style at the Anniversary Gala on April 18.”

The Nathansons’ gift of eight works of contemporary art includes seminal pieces by Damien Hirst, Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, Andy Warhol and others.

The gifts kick off a campaign, chaired by LACMA trustees Jane Nathanson and Lynda Resnick, to encourage additional promised gifts of art for the museum’s anniversary.

“What do you give a museum for its birthday? Art,” LACMA CEO and Wallis Annenberg director Michael Govan said.

­­­“As we reach the milestone of our 50th anniversary, it is truly inspiring to see generous patrons thinking about the future generations of visitors who will enjoy these great works of art for years and decades to come. Jane and Marc Nathanson have kicked off our anniversary year in grand fashion.”

LACMA is located at 5905 Wilshire Blvd.

For information, call (323)857-6000, or visit www.lacma.org.