LONDON.- Sotheby’s announces that on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 2pm it will offer for sale 46 works generously donated by some of the world’s leading contemporary artists, many of whom have been included in historic one-artist or group exhibitions, in aid of the
Serpentine Gallery’s new space, the Serpentine Sackler Gallery which will open in 2012 in Kensington Gardens, a stone’s throw from the Serpentine Gallery.
Artists include: Ron Arad, Richard Artschwager, John Baldessari, Phyllida Barlow, Matthew Barney, LouiseBourgeois, Cecily Brown, Glenn Brown, Anthony Caro, John Currin, Thomas Demand, Olafur Eliasson, Fischli & Weiss, Yang Fudong, Gilbert & George, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Douglas Gordon, Antony Gormley, Subodh Gupta, Andreas Gursky, N.S. Harsha, Susan Hefuna, Damien Hirst, M.F. Husain, Jitish Kallat, Anish Kapoor, Ellsworth Kelly, Bharti Kher, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama, Maria Lassnig, Annie Leibovitz, Takashi Murakami, Shirin Neshat, Chris Ofili, Gabriel Orozco, Richard Prince, Paula Rego, Gerhard Richter, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Do-Ho Suh, Wolfgang Tillmans, Gillian Wearing and Rachel Whiteread.
Oliver Barker, Deputy Chairman Sotheby’s Europe and Senior International Specialist, Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Department, commented: “Sotheby’s is delighted to be supporting Serpentine Gallery, one of the leading and most renowned art galleries in London. Some of the world’s most talented contemporary artists practising today have generously donated artworks in aid of Serpentine Gallery’s new Kensington Gardens space ‘Serpentine Sackler Gallery' and we very much look forward to offering this exceptional group of 46 pieces in our forthcoming Contemporary Art Day Auction in London .”
Julia Peyton-Jones, Director and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Co-director, Serpentine Gallery said: “We are both honoured and deeply grateful that some of the world’s leading artists are making this incredible contribution to the future of the Serpentine Gallery. This auction will present both the enormous talent and diversity of the artists whose work the Gallery has exhibited over the past 41 years and, through the proceeds of the sale, make a vital contribution towards enabling the Serpentine to raise the additional funds required to complete the new Serpentine Sackler Gallery.”
About the Serpentine Sackler Gallery:
In 2012, coinciding with the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Serpentine Gallery will open its new space, the Serpentine Sackler Gallery. This innovative arts venue will be housed in the Grade IIlisted building formerly known as The Magazine, situated in Kensington Gardens. The Serpentine Sackler Gallery will present the best in emerging international talent across all art forms, complementing the existing programme at the Serpentine Gallery, including an annual large-scale light installation and an outdoor Playscape for children and adults of all ages. Like the Serpentine Gallery, it will be free of charge and accessible to all.
The building will be fully renovated by Pritzker Prize winning architect Zaha Hadid who will create a new destination for contemporary culture. Plans include an adjoining pavilion to be used as a social space and restaurant, creating a permanent architectural landmark in the heart of London.
Auction Highlights To Benefit Serpentine Sackler Gallery Include:
John Currin
Edwardian
oil on canvas laid down on panel
Executed in 2011
45.7 by 35.6 cm
Estimate: £300,000-400,000
Damien Hirst
Beautiful Magnificent Everyone Loves a Good Romance Painting
butterflies cubic zirconia and household gloss on canvas
Executed in 2007
diameter: 91.4 cm
Estimate: £120,000-180,000
Antony Gormley
Measure III
grey Iron
96 by 22 by 18 cm
Executed in 2011
Donated by the artist.
Estimate: £80,000-120,000
Takashi Murakami
Flowers from the Village Pontokan
Acrylic and platinum leaf on canvas mounted on aluminium frame
60 by 60 cm
Executed in 2011
Donated by the artist.
Estimate: £120,000-150,000
Jeff Koons
Inflatable Flower (Orange) 2011
High chromium stainless steel with transparent colour coating
180.3 by 92.7 by 3.2 cm
Executed in 2011, this work is 1 of 5 unique versions
Donated by the artist.
Estimate: £200,000-300,000
Richard Prince
Untitled 2010
Collage and acrylic on canvas
152.4 x 114.3 cm
Donated by the artist.
Estimate: £200,000-300,000
