PARIS.- As part of its bi-annual auction of Contemporary Art on 3 and 4 December 2014, Sotheby’s France will offer eleven works in support of Le Magasin in Grenoble, one of the largest and most important centres for contemporary art in France.

Xavier Veilhan, François Morellet, Sylvie Fleury, Adel Abdessemed, Philippe Parreno, David Altmejd, John Armleder, Olivier Mosset, Mai-Thu Perret, Carsten Holler : each of these major artists occupies a key space in the contemporary art scene within France and internationally, and gained exposure in part thanks to exhibitions at Le Magasin. Each of them, in partnership with their respective galleries, has donated a recent piece of art which reflects their work. The sale will also feature a composition by Alighiero Boetti (1940-1994), another artist closely associated with Le Magasin. Most of Sotheby’s buyers’ commission on these sales will benefit Le Magasin.

Since its beginnings in 1986, Le Magasin has become a key space for exploration and discovery: the venue has given the most celebrated artists of our time the opportunity to create highly acclaimed exhibitions. The list includes Richard Prince, Anish Kapoor, Daniel Buren and John Baldessari, later followed by Liam Gillick and Yan Pei-Ming. Le Magasin enabled them to hold shows which marked their careers and to create original works now held in the most prestigious collections. A unique and celebrated space for exhibitions, but also for experimentation and research, Le Magasin also offers a curatorial studies programme.

Yves Aupetitallot, Director of Le Magasin, commented: “Through this partnership, made possible thanks to the generosity of these artists, we hope to raise sufficient funds to continue our work and to expand our research programme. We have been nurturing this project for two years. We are very happy to bring it to fruition hand in hand with artists and their galleries, and with a partner such as Sotheby’s. This event will shine a spotlight on the wonderful history which has connected Le Magasin with these artists for over 30 years.”

Adel Abdessemed: “It’s a contemporary art centre which occupies its own unique space, with a prestigious and noble history. Personally it was an honour for me to exhibit my work there and to work with Yves. To support it is to rightly give something back.”

Olivier Mosset: “Yves and I have held other exhibitions in different spaces in the past; “Le portrait de l’artiste en motocycliste” (“Portrait of the artist as a motorcyclist”), which we worked on together at Le Magasin, marked an important stage in my work.”

John Armleder: “It’s hard to find the words to describe this place and what it represents, for the past, the present and into the future! Quite simply, thank you on behalf of the artists.”

Xavier Veilhan: “Le Magasin has always been a vital space for contemporary art, a special place for me. In 1999, I held a solo exhibition at Le Magasin. I was so proud to be invited to do so… And I would still be proud today!”