BIRMINGHAM.- Ikon’s 50th anniversary celebrations culminates with Artists for Ikon , an exhibition at the gallery (24 April – 4 May 2015) followed by a major contemporary art auction at Sotheby’s, London in July 2015. The exhibition previews works donated for the auction by some of today’s most important artists, all of whom have exhibited at the gallery. It is a survey of Ikon’s greatest hits.

Works are being donated by Hurvin Anderson, Giovanni Anselmo, Fiona Banner, David Batchelor, Christiane Baumgartner, Lee Bul, Martin Creed, Ian Davenport, Ding Yi, A K Dolven, Marcel Dzama, Semyon Faibisovich, Matias Faldbakken, Bernard Frize, Ryan Gander, Antony Gormley, Arturo Herrera, Carmen Herrera, Roger Hiorns, Elizabeth Magill, Beatriz Milhazes, François Morellet, Dennis Oppenheim, Julian Opie, Cornelia Parker, Giuseppe Penone, Imran Qureshi, George Shaw, Amikam Toren and Zhang Enli. The proceeds will lay the foundations for Ikon’s 50th Anniversary Endowment Fund, dedicated to the gallery’s artistic programme and the commissioning of new art work. In this way, established artists will be supporting artists of the future.

The auction is being produced in collaboration with Artwise. In addition, Plinth, producers of high quality editioned artworks, is working with Ikon and five participating artists including, Richard Deacon and Cornelia Parker. A commission on sales will augment money raised by the auction.

Established in 1964 by a group of artists, Ikon is a registered charity and has grown to become internationally renowned as a champion of contemporary art. It has helped to launch the careers of many famous artists and showcased their work to audiences within a context of critical debate and participation.