Celebrities Boost Christie's Haiti Charity Auction to $13.6 million
- September 25, 2011 20:53
"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