Apr. 23, 2008

NEW YORK—Free Arts NYC is pleased to announce its Annual Art Auction Benefit, Portraits & Polaroids, sponsored by 7 For All Mankind and Vanity Fair, which will take place April 30 at Phillips de Pury & Company. Actor Clive Owen joins Free Arts NYC board members Amy Sacco and Mary Alice Stephenson as event co-chairs, and Free Arts NYC board member and Phillips de Pury founder Simon de Pury serves as auctioneer. This year’s auction celebrates the organization’s 10th anniversary of providing creative arts mentoring programs to children and families. Those who are unable to attend the auction, but would like to participate through the internet, can view the full catalog, place absentee bids prior to the sale and bid live as the sale is taking place at www.liveauctioneers.com.

For the sixth consecutive year, this live auction will present unique, large-scale 20x24 Polaroid prints, created specifically for Free Arts NYC by leading contemporary artists such as Christopher Wool, Chuck Close, Richard Prince, Adam Fuss, Kehinde Wiley, James Nares, Spencer Tunick and Rirkrit Tiravanija among others. The benefit will also feature a silent auction of 75 artworks loosely based on the theme of “The Portrait” in the broadest and most contemporary sense. Portraits may be realist or surrealist, representational or abstract, traditional or conceptual.

Last year’s benefit raised over $650,000, adding to the $3 million the event has raised to-date for Free Arts NYC programs, bringing art and creative activities to under-served children and families in New York City. Free Arts NYC founder Liz Hopfan said, “Every child deserves food clothing and shelter. At Free Arts NYC, we also believe they deserve paint, glitter, clay, and the opportunity to express themselves creatively. The extraordinary generosity of our supporting artists helps make this possible.” In the past 10 years, Free Arts NYC has served over 23,000 children, encouraging them to explore their talents and creativity while building self-esteem through positive artistic experiences. Free Arts NYC partners with more than 30 social service agencies in New York City, including those working with the homeless, victims of domestic violence and foster children. Budgetary cuts in New York City have made creative and arts programs scarce, and they have been all but eliminated for the group that is served by Free Arts -- the children most in need of creative expression.

To view the fully illustrated auction catalog, and place bids, please visit www.LiveAuctioneers.com.