The third (RED) Auction, orchestrated by (RED), Sotheby’s and Gagosian raised $10.5 million including matching funds by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support the fight against AIDS on Dec. 5 in Miami. The accompanying (RED) Online auction brought the total funds raised to nearly $11 million.
Co-founded by musician and activist Bono, (RED) was established in 2006 and has generated more than $600 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Two previous (RED) Auctions conducted by Sotheby’s in 2008 and 2013 paved the way for the Miami event at the Moore Building.
“These auctions have been game-changing for the AIDS fight. It’s not just about the cash they bring in, which is literally lifesaving – but it’s also about the heat, about keeping this epidemic on the public agenda,” said Bono.
Art and architecture stars Theaster Gates and Sir David Adjaye OBE curated the event in collaboration with Bono.
“Conjuring this exhibition has been such a privilege. We are so grateful to the art, architecture and design community, all of our friends and colleagues who stepped up for the third (RED) Auction to contribute such beautiful work,” said Sir Adjaye.
The auction featured contemporary art and design donated by Jenny Saville, Sean Scully, Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson, Jennifer Guidi and more. In addition, Sir Adjaye and Gates created unique pieces for the sale. The public exhibition presented by Gagosian and designed by Rene Gonzalez Architects was on display through Dec. 7 at the Moore building, thanks to Craig Robins.
Focusing on the theme of light and the color red, the auction was led by Gates’ piece “A Flag for The Least of Them,” which set an auction record for the artist at $807,000. Jenny Saville’s “Susanna” achieved $735,000.
Online, the auction was led by Ti-A Thuy Nguyen’s “Scarlet Mist” which sold for $100,000 and set a record for the artist. Artists that also set auction records included Jennifer Guidi, Ebony, G. Patterson, Hank Willis and Leo Villareal.
Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund, said: “(RED) is making spectacular contributions to the fight to end AIDS, creating powerful collaborations infused with innovation and imagination to save lives and accelerate our progress towards ending the epidemic.
Proceeds from the evening will go to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS to provide life-saving HIV/AIDS programs in sub-Saharan Africa and the Rebuild Foundation — an organization championed by Theaster Gates — to fund community-strengthening programs in Chicago.