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Collage of five diverse artworks from the Hammer Museum Collections side by side. From left to right: 1) Contemporary painting of two embracing figures with surreal elements. 2) Post-impressionist style painting of trees with vibrant blues and greens. 3) Black and white illustration of a face with intricate patterns. 4) Japanese woodblock print style image of a figure in a checkered robe. 5) Photograph of a couple dancing, the woman in a black dress and the man in white

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Mark Bradford, Scratch Pink, mixed media, 60 x 48 in. ©Mark Bradford. Image courtesy Sotheby's

Sotheby’s auction will benefit new Artist Fund

Artists who donated works include Mark Bradford, Cecily Brown, Vija Celmins, Jimmie Durham, Charles Gaines, Mark Grotjahn, Jim Hodges, Rashid Johnson, Barbara Kruger, Glenn Ligon, Laura Owens, Ed Ruscha, Henry Taylor, Mary Weatherford, Ai Weiwei, and Jonas Wood

 

 

Important works by nearly 40 celebrated artists with strong ties to the Hammer Museum have been donated for auction this May at Sotheby’s New York. Proceeds from this historic sale will support the creation of a new Artist Fund, which will directly support the museum’s pioneering exhibition program and work with emerging artists. The fund is part of the museum’s $180 million capital campaign, which also includes a major transformation of the Hammer’s facility and an expansion of its endowment.

“Artists are the heart of our institution, and I am incredibly grateful to all those who have donated works to support this effort,” said Ann Philbin, director of the Hammer Museum. “The Hammer is proud to have shown many of these artists early in their careers, and we are delighted that their generosity will in turn support the work of generations of artists to come. We are extremely pleased to have Sotheby’s as our partner in making the auction possible.”

The list of participating artists highlights the Hammer’s deep roots in L.A.’s artistic community and its connection to broader currents in contemporary art. The sale features works by: Kevin Beasley, Larry Bell, Lee Bontecou, Louise Bourgeois, Frank Bowling, Mark Bradford, Cecily Brown, Vija Celmins, Judy Chicago, Jimmie Durham, Charles Gaines, Mark Grotjahn, Jennifer Guidi, Jim Hodges, Luchita Hurtado, Rashid Johnson, Barbara Kruger, Shio Kusaka, Glenn Ligon, Sarah Lucas, Brice Marden, Marisa Merz, Meleko Mokgosi, Catherine Opie, Gabriel Orozco, Laura Owens, Raymond Pettibon, Lari Pittman, Sigmar Polke, Christina Quarles, Ed Ruscha, Analia Saban, Kenny Scharf, Cindy Sherman, Lorna Simpson, Henry Taylor, Kaari Upson, Mary Weatherford, Ai Weiwei, and Jonas Wood.

The donated works will be offered across Sotheby's evening and day auctions of Contemporary Art on May 16 and 17 in New York, with public exhibition previews in Los Angeles at UTA Artist Space from April 17–20 and in New York at Sotheby’s York Avenue galleries opening May 3.

Read Sotheby’s news release (PDF, 514 KB, 5 pp.).

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