LONDON.- Raising over £325,000, last week’s Charity Auction for The Photographers’ Gallery was a resounding success, securing a significant contribution towards the final funds needed for the redevelopment of its Central London Gallery.

Held last Thursday, 17 February 2011, at Christie’s South Kensington, the fundraising event consisted of a Live and Silent Auction comprising 70 lots in total. Coinciding with The Photographers’ Gallery’s 40th anniversary, the works on sale reflected the extraordinary range of artists who have exhibited at the Gallery during its 40-year history. Names such as Helmut Newton, Tracey Emin, Mario Testino and Sebastião Salgado ensured that the Auction attracted great interest creating an exciting atmosphere at the crowded Live Auction.

Estimates on the works ranged from £600 to £10,000 and were substantially exceeded. The winner of the Gallery’s 1999 Citibank Photography Prize, Rineke Dijkstra’s lot more than doubled its high estimate of £10,000 realising £21,000. Late British photographer Bill Brandt’s work has been exhibited at the Gallery repeatedly throughout its history. His lot reached £8,800, almost triple its £3,000 high estimate. Maurizio Anzeri exhibited in 2007’s The Photographic Object and was a hit at last year’s Paris Photo for the Gallery’s Print Sales. His lot started a bidding war, with the final bid raising almost £9,500, well over the original high estimate of £2,500.

Brett Rogers, Director of The Photographers’ Gallery said, ‘We are thrilled by the results from last week’s Charity Auction and delighted that we have been able to raise such a significant amount of money towards the final funds needed for our new building. The generosity of all involved has shown the incredible support The Photographers’ Gallery has attracted in realising its vision of a new state-of-the-art photography gallery in London. I would like to thank everyone who has donated or bought at the Auction and look forward to the transformed Photographers’ Gallery reopening later this year.’

Public viewing of the Auction ran from 12 to 17 February 2011 and attracted large numbers of serious collectors and photography enthusiasts. A series of accompanying free talks by featured artists Simon Roberts, Rut Blees Luxemburg and Karen Knorr, as well as Gallery Curator Stefanie Braun, were all fully booked. A pop-up Bookshop run by The Photographers’ Gallery, which is operating offsite at the temporary office address during the development, added to the overall success of the Charity Auction.

The lots were donated by artists, gallerists, estates and individuals in support of The Photographer’s Gallery. All proceeds from the Auction go towards the Gallery’s ongoing capital campaign to build a new photography gallery at Ramillies Street, just off Oxford Street, in the heart of London’s West End. The transformed Photographers’ Gallery will comprise three dedicated gallery floors, an education floor, improved Bookshop and Print Sales, and a street level Café/Bar area. Construction has already started on this impressive project with the Gallery due to open in Autumn 2011.

As a public gallery and charity The Photographers’ Gallery raises all its income through the generous support of Arts Council England, trusts & foundations and individuals as well as from its Enterprises which go back into supporting the public programme.