NEW YORK, NY.- Christie's will offer 23 exceptional contemporary works, donated by the artists to benefit the artistic activities of the Brooklyn Museum. Proceeds from the sale will support the museum's dynamic program of special exhibitions, presentation of its world-renowned holdings, and its extensive public programs. The works will be sold during the First Open Sale of Post-War and Contemporary Art on March 8, 2013.
"The Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Museum and I would like to express our gratitude to the twenty-two artists for their generous gifts of wonderful works of art. We would also like to thank Christie's for their ongoing support of the Brooklyn Museum. Following the sale of four major works in November, Christie's has remained committed to one of New York City's great cultural institutions with its forthcoming and exciting BKLYN auction in March," said Arnold L. Lehman, Director of the Brooklyn Museum.
The auction will present works by Rina Banerjee, Matthew Barney, Sanford Biggers, E.V. Day, Aleksandar Duravcevic, Valerie Hegarty, Michael Joo, Byron Kim, Jemima Kirke, Joseph Kosuth, Adam McEwen, Vik Muniz, Wangechi Mutu, Angel Otero, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Roxy Paine, Julian Schnabel, Yinka Shonibare, Swoon, The Bruce High Quality Foundation, Kehinde Wiley and Dustin Yellin.
Many of the works at auction are by artists with strong ties to Brooklyn as well as to the Museum. Jemima Kirke, who also plays Jessa on HBO's Brooklyn-based award-winning GIRLS, donated an intimate portrait entitled, Teddy. Also included will be The Bruce High Quality Foundation's Self-Portrait (Dave), which focuses on the iconic face of Michelangelo's David, rendering it larger-than-life with a Warhol-esque screen printing technique. Formed in 2001, the foundation is an arts collective based in Brooklyn that works both in and out of the mainstream art world expanding and equalizing relations between art producers and consumers, art history, and arts institutions.
The works by Jemima Kirke, Aleksandar Duravcevic and Dustin Yellin will also make their auction debut in March, demonstrating the Brooklyn Museum's dedication to young, emerging artists.