NEW YORK.- Christie’s New York and the Judd Foundation are to be recognized by the American Section of the International Art Critics Association (AICA/USA) with its Award for the Best Show in a Temporary or Alternative Space. Presented by Christie’s, organized by Judd Foundation and installed and designed by Flavin Judd, the exhibition took place on the 20th floor of 1230 Avenue of the Americas from April 3 through May 9, 2006. Presenting a group of works which reflected the full scope of Judd’s career, the exhibition constituted the largest ensemble of Judd sculpture in the U.S. since the retrospective show of the artist organized by the Whitney Museum in New York in 1988.

“To Christie’s, the AICA award is not only an exciting and beautiful conclusion to the Judd Foundation project we embarked upon nearly a year ago, it also reinforces our commitment to widening our scope and working with partners beyond the confines of the traditional auction world,” said Brett Gorvy, Deputy Chairman and International Co-Head of the Post-War and Contemporary Art department. “Never before have interest and curiosity in art been so widespread as they are today, and as the world’s leading art business, we want to make the incredible creations that come through our doors accessible to the widest possible audience. The Judd exhibition was visited by over 11,000 people, making it an enormously gratifying experience to everyone involved. To have our joint effort recognized and acknowledged with this prestigious award is an honor.”

“We are delighted to learn of this award which recognizes the unique partnership between Judd Foundation and Christie’s in 2006,” said Barbara Hunt McLanahan, Executive Director Judd Foundation. “The exhibition design and installation by Flavin Judd placed the work of his father in optimum conditions – in natural light, and with sufficient space for each work to be properly considered, as the artist himself prescribed in numerous texts. A stellar exhibition, it also achieved its goal – creating an Endowment for the Foundation which enables us to continue the important work of preserving Donald Judd’s legacy.”

Hailed by Roberta Smith in the New York Times as ‘the most beautiful survey of Judd’s work ever seen in New York,’ the exhibition showcased a core group of Judd sculptures, selected by the Judd Foundation. The pieces were shown in a space that was specifically designed for the purpose, remaining true to Judd’s clearly articulated ideas regarding the important connection between art and its spatial context. Flavin Judd, the artist’s son and a member of the Judd Foundation’s Board, oversaw the preparation of the space and the installation of the exhibition. By noon on May 9, when the show closed, 11,000 people had taken advantage of the rare opportunity to see this significant group of Judd works exhibited in near perfect circumstances.

“Very rarely do a variety of factors come together as favorably as they did with this exhibition,” commented Flavin Judd. “The raw space allowed us to create an environment that was ideal for the display of the selected works, and the location on the 20th floor provided flawless natural light. Don would have been delighted.”

Donald Judd: Selected Works from the Judd Foundation was presented during the Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale on May 9 and realized $24.5 million, thereby enabling the Foundation to create an endowment which will help them to preserve the 16 permanently installed spaces in New York and Marfa and to undertake work on their archives, publications and catalogue raisonné.

The 2007 AICA Awards Ceremony, honoring the best exhibitions of the 2005-2006 season, will be held at El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Avenue, New York City, on February 21 from 6 to 8 pm. The ceremony is free and open to the public. For more info on the Judd Foundation please visit www.juddfoundation.org.