Sotheby’s has announced that an auction will take place in June to benefit the new building plans at the Serpentine Gallery. It will take place on June 30. The event will offer 46 works donated by leading contemporary artists, some with connections to the gallery. The Serpentine Gallery’s new Sackler Gallery will open in 2012 in Kensington Gardens, close to the Serpentine Gallery’s present location.
Artists donating work to the sale include: Ron Arad, Richard Artschwager, John Baldessari, Louise Bourgeois, Cecily Brown, Anthony Caro, John Currin, Gilbert & George, Antony Gormley, Subodh Gupta, Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor, Ellsworth Kelly, Jeff Koons, Annie Leibovitz, Takashi Murakami, Chris Ofili, Gabriel Orozco, Richard Prince, Paula Rego, Gerhard Richter, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Rachel Whiteread.
Deputy Chairman of Sotheby’s Oliver Barker commented: “Sotheby’s is delighted to be supporting Serpentine Gallery, one of the leading and most renowned art galleries in London. Some of the world’s most talented contemporary artists practising today have generously donated artworks in aid of Serpentine Gallery’s new Kensington Gardens space ‘Serpentine Sackler Gallery’ and we very much look forward to offering this exceptional group of 46 pieces in our forthcoming Contemporary Art Day Auction in London.”
Julia Peyton-Jones, Director and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Co-director, Serpentine Gallery said: “We are both honoured and deeply grateful that some of the world’s leading artists are making this incredible contribution to the future of the Serpentine Gallery. This auction will present both the enormous talent and diversity of the artists whose work the Gallery has exhibited over the past 41 years and, through the proceeds of the sale, make a vital contribution towards enabling the Serpentine to raise the additional funds required to complete the new Serpentine Sackler Gallery.”
The Auction takes place 30 June at 2:00pm
About the Serpentine Sackler Gallery
In 2012, coinciding with the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Serpentine Gallery will open its new space, the Serpentine Sackler Gallery. This innovative arts venue will be housed in the Grade II listed building formerly known as The Magazine, situated in Kensington Gardens. The Serpentine Sackler Gallery will present the best in emerging international talent across all art forms, complementing the existing programme at the Serpentine Gallery, including an annual large-scale light installation and an outdoor Playscape for children and adults of all ages. Like the Serpentine Gallery, it will be free of charge and accessible to all.
The building will be fully renovated by Pritzker Prize winning architect Zaha Hadid, who will create a new destination for contemporary culture. Plans include an adjoining pavilion to be used as a social space and restaurant, creating a permanent architectural landmark in the heart of London.