Catherine Yass, 'Sleep' (chemin) (2008), ilfotrans transparency, lightbox, 86 x 68 x 12.5cm, edition 2 of 3 + 2APs. Image courtesy of artist.

Contemporary Art Society raises $415K for UK museums

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Catherine Yass, 'Sleep' (chemin) (2008), ilfotrans transparency, lightbox, 86 x 68 x 12.5cm, edition 2 of 3 + 2APs. Image courtesy of artist.

Catherine Yass, ‘Sleep’ (chemin) (2008), ilfotrans transparency, lightbox, 86 x 68 x 12.5cm, edition 2 of 3 + 2APs. Copyright the artist. Courtesy Alison Jacques Gallery, London.

LONDON – The Contemporary Art Society has raised more than £250,000 ($415,000) to benefit its mission of purchasing new works of contemporary art for UK museums at an auction held on March 11, 2014.

Lord Harry Dalmeny of Sotheby’s presided over the event, which featured 32 contemporary artworks, including many art stars of the future.

Highlights of the auction included a marble sculpture by Daniel Silver, which sold for a hammer price of £21,000, Michael Landy’s Saint Catherine Wheel 6, which realized £16,000, and a blue-crystals work of Roger Hiorns, which was bid to £20,000.

The gala held at the Tobacco Dock in London’s East London included works by recent Turner Prize winners Laure Prouvost and Elizabeth Price, as well as David Austen, Charles Avery, Becky Beasley, Alice Channer, Marcus Coates, Claudia Comte and Keith Coventry. Additionally, artworks were featured by Angela de la Cruz, Matthew Darbyshire, Haris Epaminonda, Roger Hiorns, Tania Kovats, Michael Landy, Christina Mackie, Haroon Mirza, Silke Otto-Knapp and Toby Paterson. The list was rounded out by artists Mick Peter, Olivia Plender, Fiona Rae, David Raymond Conroy, Michal Rovner, Samara Scott, Daniel Silver, Caragh Thuring, Rose Wylie and Catherine Yass.

Guests also bid on a commissioned portrait to be painted by artist Sarah Jones, and a custom-created dinner for 10 at artist Gary Hume’s studio, cooked by Giorgio Locatelli.

Over 300 guests attended the charity dinner and auction alongside Honorary Chair Livia Firth (Creative Director of Eco-Age and Founder of The Green Carpet Challenge) and her husband Colin Firth. Other VIP guests included Nancy Dell-Olio; high-profile collectors Nicolai Frahm, Valeria Napoleone and Iwan Wirth; artists Jeremy Deller, Elizabeth Price, Fiona Rae, Conrad Shawcross and Gavin Turk; and leading London city figures, including Mark Stephens.

Gavin Turk, Contemporary Art Society Artist Ambassador, said: “The Contemporary Art Society was able to put my work into national museums across the country and, as an artist, that’s really where you want your art to be. It’s how to keep your art alive – it’s where it will survive.”

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ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

Catherine Yass, 'Sleep' (chemin) (2008), ilfotrans transparency, lightbox, 86 x 68 x 12.5cm, edition 2 of 3 + 2APs. Copyright the artist. Courtesy Alison Jacques Gallery, London.

Catherine Yass, ‘Sleep’ (chemin) (2008), ilfotrans transparency, lightbox, 86 x 68 x 12.5cm, edition 2 of 3 + 2APs. Image courtesy of artist.

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