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Celebrities Boost Christie's Haiti Charity Auction to $13.6 million

25 September 2011
  • Zhang Huan "Chinese Flag No. 1," 2007.

    Zhang Huan "Chinese Flag No. 1," 2007.

    © Zhang Huan Studio / Courtesy The Pace Gallery / Photograph by Joerg Lohse

"Artists for Haiti" brought a hefty total of $13,662,000 for 27 lots in a benefit auction for the earthquake-damaged and impoverished Caribbean nation on Sept. 23 at Christie's.

Actor Ben Stiller and art dealer David Zwirner presented the event which was well-attended by dealers and a few Hollywood notables.

Stiller stepped up to pay $400,000 for a Jeff Koons, and $200,000 for a Martin Kippenberger designed street lamp sculpture.

Jennifer Aniston accompanied Wanderlust co-star Justin Theroux as he bid a record $450,000 for Glenn Ligon's canvas, paying well above the $150-200,000 estimate.

Tennis star John McEnroe lost a bidding battle for Zhang Huan's ash-on-canvas titled "Chinese Flag No. 1" to Acquavella Gallery. But he did win Elizabeth Petyon's colored pencil and pastel portrait of Jay-Z for $85,000.

Artists donated their own works to the auction and Christie's waived the buyer's premium for the event which benefits health and education initiaves in Haiti.

Read more at Hollywood Reporter
Categories: contemporary art
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