Sotheby's Results - The (RED) Auction - Valentine's Day, February 14, 2008 Tonight, on the evening of Valentine’s Day, over $40 million was raised to fight AIDS in Africa in an historic auction -- the most significant charity auction of Contemporary Art ever.
we can get
at any Duane Reade. Damien Hirst had the vision to turn pills into art and now that art will be turned
into actual medicine for millions of people.”
Damien Hirst said: “It’s an amazing result, it’s not sunk in yet but it just shows you what you can do if
you put your mind to it. I'm never going to be cynical ever again for a while. A big thank you and a
million out of ten for all the artists who gave something. We've helped to change the world a little
bit.”
Dr. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria,
said: “What is particularly exciting about tonight is that in addition to being a major art event, every
dollar generated will help the Global Fund purchase life-saving AIDS treatment in sub-Saharan Africa.
On behalf of the Global Fund and the people we serve, thank you to everyone here tonight – (RED),
Damien Hirst and all of the artists who contributed, Sotheby’s, and all the buyers.”
Oliver Barker, Sotheby’s Senior Specialist of Contemporary Art in London, said: “We’re absolutely
delighted with the phenomenal total of over $40 million that was raised tonight for AIDS in Africa. It
was an extraordinary evening.” Cheyenne Westphal, Sotheby’s Chairman of Contemporary Art for
Europe, continued: “The real stars of tonight are the artists who so generously gave their works to
benefit this worthy cause.”
Larry Gagosian of Gagosian Gallery added: “The results speak for themselves. If you put together
great artists who have created highly desirable works for a worthy cause, success will inevitably
follow. I commend Damien, Bono and all the artists on this incredible achievement.”
Selected highlights in the sale
Lot 54
Damien Hirst
Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
Estimate: $5/7 million
SOLD FOR: $7,150,000
Lot 49
Jeff Koons
Balloon Rabbit Wall Relief (Red)
2008
Estimate: $800,000-1,200,000
SOLD FOR: $2,035,000
Lot 16
Damien Hirst
All You Need is Love
Estimate: $1/1.5 million
SOLD FOR: $2,420,000
Lot 34
Banksy
Keep It Spotless
2008
Estimate: $250/350,000
SOLD FOR: $1,870,999
Lot 3
Takashi Murakami
Red Flower Ball (3-D)
2007
Estimate: $500,000-700,000
SOLD FOR: $1,650,000
Lot 17
Andreas Gursky
Pyongyang IV
2007
Estimate: $300,000-400,000
SOLD FOR: $1,375,000
About Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s:
2007 was a hugely successful year for Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s. Sotheby’s evening sale of
Contemporary Art in New York in November brought $315,907,000, the highest sale total ever in the
Company’s 263-year history. Sotheby’s set a new record for a Contemporary work of art sold at
auction in May, when Mark Rothko’s White Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose) sold in New
York for $72.8 million, and twice broke the record for a work by a living artist, first when Damien
Hirst’s pill cabinet Lullaby Spring was sold in London in June for £9.6 ($19.2) million, and then when
Jeff Koons’ dazzling Hanging Heart brought $23.6 million in New York in November. Both artists have
generously donated their works to
