Contemporary Art Society’s 2014 Annual Fundraising Gala auction took in excess of £250,000 on the night to benefit the charity’s mission to purchase new works of contemporary art for museums across the UK – for the benefit of audiences up and down the country today and in the future.
The gala, held at London’s Tobacco Dock on 11 March 2014 was themed ‘RE-’ explored ideas of re-cycling, re-creating, re-using re-thinking and re-imagining and guests were encourage to dress to theme.
Over 300 guests attended the charity dinner and auction alongside Honorary Chair Livia Firth (Creative Director of Eco-Age and Founder of The Green Carpet Challenge) and her husband Colin Firth. Other VIP guests included Nancy Dell-Olio; high-profile collectors Nicolai Frahm, Valeria Napoleone and Iwan Wirth; artists Jeremy Deller, Elizabeth Price, Fiona Rae, Conrad Shawcross and Gavin Turk; and leading city figures including Mark Stephens.
The auction, auctioneered by Lord Harry Dalmeny of Sotheby’s and supported by Davina Harbord, featured 32 contemporary artworks by emerging and more established names, endorsed by the Contemporary Art Society’s unrivalled reputation for identifying the art stars of the future.
Highlights of the auction included a marble sculpture by Daniel Silver, which sold for a hammer price of £21,000, Michael Landy‘s Saint Catherine Wheel 6, which sold for a hammer price of £16,000, and an incredible blue crystals work by Roger Hiorns, which sold for a hammer price of £20,000.
RE-juvenate. RE-claim. RE-imagine. RE-create. RE-cycle. RE-load. RE-visit.
There is no doubt that we are living in extraordinary times. Can our future be found by re-purposing materials, re-imagining the past and re-designing systems? RE- explores new and dynamic ways that we are looking to the past in anticipation of the dawn of a new era.
Included in the gala auction were works by:
Caroline Achaintre
David Austen
Charles Avery
Alice Channer
Angela de la Cruz
Matt Darbyshire
Haris Epaminoda
Roger Hiorns
Tania Kovats
Michael Landy
Haroon Mirza
Toby Paterson
Mick Peter
Olivia Plender
Elizabeth Price
Laure Prouvost
Fiona Rae
Michal Rovner
Samara Scott
Daniel Silver
Caragh Thuring
Rose Wylie
Catherine Yass
and many more.
Other lots included a bespoke dinner for ten at artist Gary Hume‘s legendary studio space cooked by Michelin star chef Giorgio Locatelli, as well as a commissioned portrait by artist Sarah Jones.
For further details on this event, contact Dida Tait, Head of Development & External Relations on +44 (0)20 7017 8414 or email dida@contemporaryartsociety.org
Honorary Chair: Livia Firth
Ambassadors: Jeremy Deller, Fiona Rae, Bob and Roberta Smith, John Stezaker, Gavin Turk
Auctioneer: Harry Dalmeny, Chairman, Sotheby’s UK
RE- Committee: Heidi Baravalle, Elizabeth Bauza, Philippa Bradley, Daniela Colaiacovo, Caroline Douglas, Sarah Elson, Antje Géczy, Kira Heuer, Linda Keyte, Michael King, Audrey Klein, Martina Klemmer, Paula Lent, Suling Mead, Valeria Napoleone, Flavia Nespatti, Midge Palley, Veronique Parke, Françoise Sarre Rapp, Dasha Shenkman, Mark Stephens, Cathy Wills, Dina Wulfsohn, Anita Zabludowicz, Jill Zarzycki.
Sponsors of the 2014 gala included Goldlake, Hine Cognac, Lavazza, Lexington Partners, Pol Roger and Sotheby’s.