WINTER PARK, Fla. – About 800 works of fine and decorative art will be on display and available for auction at Baterbys' annual Art Gallery Event, slated for Saturday, May 14th, in its Winter Park showroom at 6848 Stapoint Court. An auction preview and pre-sale will be held at 4 pm Eastern time. The live art auction will begin at 5 pm.

The artworks – a dazzling blend of original paintings, limited-edition prints, lithographs and etchings – are by some of the biggest and most important names in fine art. They include Henri Matisse, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso and Peter Max, plus notable contemporary artists such as Elena Bond, Duaiv, Thomas Kinkade and many others. All are highly collectible.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit The Assistance Fund, a not-for-profit 501 (c)3 organization that offers financial assistance programs for those diagnosed with a variety of diseases, such as breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, melanoma and multiple sclerosis. The group assists those in need by helping with co-pays, deductibles, health insurance premiums and more.

The Art Gallery Event is one of the premier functions on Baterbys’ already impressive calendar. Guests can enjoy complimentary wine and light snacks while they browse the modern, 7,000-square-foot showroom that houses the gallery's display rooms and offices (an 8,000-square-foot warehouse is adjacent to it). The event will be open to the public and there is no charge to attend.

During the evening, there will be multiple prizes and giveaways. Everyone will receive a free art print by Alfred Gockel just for attending. A raffle will be held for a chance to win framed artworks valued at $500 each. The grand prize is a cruise certificate for two on the Royal Caribbean Cruise line. Every winning bid on an artwork increases one’s chances of winning.

The live auction, however, will be the evening’s main event. In addition to the sheer excitement a live auction generates, it also offers attendees the opportunity to bid and buy at their price. Collectors and auction-goers at all levels are invited to find the perfect artwork, whether it’s for starting a collection, adding to an existing collection or buying a gift.

Novice collectors will like the fact that they’ll have the opportunity to speak with one of several Baterbys gallery associates who will be happy to answer questions and guide newcomers through the art auction process. Then, armed with that knowledge, they can confidently place an offer on a curated selection of fine and decorative art by some of the greatest masters of the 20th century.

Bidders will immerse themselves in a unique collection of artwork representing various styles and price points. All will be original or reproduction works by world-renowned international and local artists. Decorative art pieces will also be available, many with no reserve (meaning there is no minimum bid; the lot will be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of the final hammer price).

Winning bidders can expect to enjoy up to 70 percent off gallery retail prices. That is a huge value-add when considering the artworks are, in many instances, by known, famous artists. And Baterbys is a fully-licensed and bonded art company that offers an ironclad lifetime authenticity guarantee and a lifetime exchange policy on every fine art piece it sells.

With over 1.7 million artworks in stock, Baterbys Art Gallery takes great pride in offering the highest quality art, as well as preserving lasting relationships with its clients. The firm serves as a local venue for corporate and community events, and was named “Orlando’s Best Art Gallery” four times by Orlando Style Magazine and Orlando Magazine, among other local publications.

In addition to being home for some of the greatest names in the world of fine art, Baterbys also offers services such as home art staging, art valuations and art appraisals, art consulting, consignments, custom framing, charity auctions, fundraising events and more.

For more information about Baterbys’ Art Gallery Event planned for Saturday evening, May 14th, please visit www.baterbys.com. To RSVP to the event, you may call Kirsten Gjermo, toll-free, at 888-682-9995, extension 301; or via e-mail at kirsten@baterbys.com.

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