Sotheby’s New York announces that it will offer six works generously donated by leading contemporary artists to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF). Works by Cecily Brown, Tracey Emin, Jim Hodges, Howard Hodgkin, Jeff Koons and Keith Haring will be include in Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Day Sale on 10 November 2011, with proceeds benefitting the Foundation’s initiatives. The auction is part of a series of art-related events that will help mark the 20th year of the organization in 2012.
Cecily Brown, Don’t Bring Me Down, 2011. Oil on linen, 55 x 77 in. Estimate: $400-600,000. Photo: Sotheby’s.
“All of us at EJAF are tremendously grateful to Sotheby’s and to all of the amazing artists who have so generously contributed truly special pieces to the charity lots for this auction,” said Sir Elton John. “I am inspired by their great generosity as we kick-off our fund-raising efforts for the 20th year of the Foundation’s work.” The scope and breadth of effective HIV prevention messaging and education that the foundation is able to target towards at-risk populations is directly limited by financial resources.
“Sotheby’s is delighted to support the remarkable work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation in our upcoming Contemporary sale,” said Tobias Meyer, Worldwide Director of Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s. “The works on offer in November have been donated directly from an enticing mix of today’s leading contemporary artists, and their connection to the EJAF is certain to appeal to a wide range of today’s collectors and philanthropists.”
*Cecily Brown – Don’t Bring Me Down 2011, Oil on linen 55 x 77 inches Est. $400/600,000 Courtesy of the artist and Gagosian Gallery
*Jim Hodges – Study for Blue IV 2009, Pastel 59 ¾ x 41 inches Est. $100/150,000 Courtesy of the artist, Gladstone Gallery, Stephen Friedman Gallery and Anthony Meier Fine Arts
*Howard Hodgkin – As Time Goes By 2009, Sugar lift aquatint, carborundum and hand painting on 5 hand-torn sheets of Moulin de Gue paper 96 x 240 inches Est. $80/120,000 Courtesy of Alan Cristea Gallery, London ©Howard Hodgkin
*Tracey Emin – And I Said I Love You! 2011 Neon 22.5 x 63.1 x 1 inches Est. $70/90,000 Courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin Gallery, Ne
*Keith Haring – Untitled 1981 Sumi ink on paper 22 x 30 inches Est. $60/80,000 Courtesy of the Keith Haring Foundation
*Jeff Koons – Monkey Train 2007 Silkscreen with archival pigmented inkjet on Somerset paper, 32.87 x 26.12 inches Est. $40/60,000 Courtesy of the artist
EJAF Photography Portfolio II
In addition to the auction, the Foundation has also announced that the second EJAF Photography Portfolio will feature the work of ten renowned photographers from five countries: Tina Barney (USA), Rineke Dijkstra (Netherlands), Elger Esser (Germany), Candida Höfer (Germany), Chen Jiagang (China), David LaChapelle (USA), Alex Prager (USA), Ed Ruscha (USA), Hedi Slimane (France), and Frank Thiel (Germany). The edition size will be comprised of 40 prints and 12 Artist Proofs, each sized 20 x 24 inches. Each portfolio is enclosed in a custom-designed, archival photographic storage box that will include the ten photographs, a table of contents and a letter to the purchaser signed by Sir Elton John. Photographs included in the EJAF Photography Portfolio II are unique and are only available through purchase of the entire $25,000 portfolio. Proceeds from the sale of each portfolio will go directly to support the Foundation’s life-saving HIV prevention grant-making initiatives. The 2nd EJAF Photography Portfolio will be premiered at Art Platform Los Angeles, October 1-3, 2011.
