NEW YORK, NY.- Actor, director, and philanthropist Ben Stiller has joined together with gallerist and art dealer David Zwirner to organize Artists for Haiti, a major, high-profile art auction which will raise funds for education and health programs for children. Many of the most prominent artists working today have already committed to donating works, including Chuck Close, Marlene Dumas, Dan Flavin (estate), Jasper Johns, Jeff Koons, Paul McCarthy, Chris Ofili, Raymond Pettibon, Neo Rauch, Hiroshi Sugimoto, and Luc Tuymans. The auction will be held on Thursday, September 22, 2011 at Christie’s, New York.

“Over a year after the massive quake in Haiti there remains a huge need to rebuild and help the country,” said Ben Stiller. “With the generosity of Christie’s and the artists who have contributed pieces to the auction, David and I are working to help raise funds, so that the children of Haiti have an opportunity to receive the education they need to lead a better life and fulfill the potential of this vibrant and important culture.”

“When Ben and I visited Haiti earlier this year, I immediately felt compelled to do something to help,” said David Zwirner. “The art world is a generous place, and I am incredibly thankful for the extraordinary support from the artists and the arts community.”

One hundred percent of the sales of the artworks will go to support non-profit organizations that are already performing extraordinary work in Haiti, including Architecture for Humanity, J/P Haitian Relief Organization, Partners in Health, and Grameen Creative Lab, among others.

The auction will be preceded by a preview exhibition at David Zwirner’s New York gallery in early September, and a special catalogue will be produced together with Christie’s, who have generously waved their standard commission fees for Artists for Haiti.