Last night’s 95th Annual Academy Awards was an evening of historic firsts. We witnessed the first Asian person to win Best Actress, the first nomination for an actor in a Marvel movie, and the first donkey to make its stage debut during Hollywood's most glamorous evening (we love you, Jenny). But you know all that since you watched (and by 'watched' we mean scrolled through Twitter recaps this morning) the events unfold yourselves. So, we’ve asked artist Austin Call of @duhrivative to reinterpret each moment that had us screaming at our TVs (err, phones).
1. Michelle Yeoh’s Historic Best Actress Win
Michelle Yeoh accepts her Oscar for Best Actress;
Art: Austin Call
Last night, Michelle Yeoh made history as the first Asian person—and second person of color—to win Best Actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once. Dressed like an angel in a feathered white ball gown by Dior, the Malaysian actress accepted her tiny gold statue beneath a literal halo (okay, it was apparently a jeweled headband, but if the shoe fits…).
2. Lady Gaga’s Stripped Down Performance
Lady Gaga attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards;
Art: Austin Call
Lady Gaga started the night with an intense smokey eye and scarlet pout. But when she took the stage to perform Top Gun: Maverick’s ‘Hold My Hand,’ it appeared she had removed all traces of makeup from her face. The often ostentatious star also donned a simple black tee and ripped jeans. The practical French braid was the only continuing thread for both looks.
3. Cate Blanchett is Our Best Dressed Celeb of the Night
Cate Blanchett in custom Louis Vuitton;
Art: Austin Call
Paralleling the carpet’s shift to a champagne hue, many stars opted for a white-washed roster of ensembles. So it was extremely refreshing to see Cate Blanchett in a myriad of rich blues. The Tár actress sported a custom Louis Vuitton dress that featured an asymmetrically draped teal velvet bodice and navy silk skirt.
4. Ke Huy Quan’s Tear-jerking Speech
Ke Huy Quan accepts the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Giorgio Armani;
Art: Austin Call
After Ke Huy Quan won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, the Vietnamese-American actor delivered a speech that tugged at America’s heartstrings in a Giorgio Armani suit. (The crying-face emoji has never worked harder than it did on Instagram stories last night.) With a cuteness factor rivaled only by Jenny (keep scrolling), the talented thespian championed chasing your dream in a manner that even had the pessimists reaching for the tissue box.
5. Rihanna Takes the World Stage Once More
Rihanna attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards;
Art: Austin Call
Rihanna stepped up to the world stage yet again to perform Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s ‘Lift Me Up,’ and she did so once more while many months pregnant. America’s fashion darling wore custom Maison Margiela by John Galliano that was sheer enough for a bump to show through. She accessorized casually: just black leather opera-length gloves and layered diamond necklaces.
WILDCARD: Jenny’s Onstage Cameo
Jenny the donkey onstage at the Oscars;
Art: Austin Call
Donkeys aren’t your typical Academy Awards guest, but we will make an exception for our favorite character in Best Picture nominee The Banshees of Inisherin: Jenny. Host Jimmy Kimmel toted out the crowd-pleasing guest star midway through the show with much applause. Though apparently, this was not the real actor who played Jenny, we still approve. With EO nominated for best foreign picture, we think a “Best Supporting Donkey” category is in order from the Academy.