Elton John Auctions $1m Of Contemporary Art

AIDS charity to benefit from Sotheby’s sale and new photo Portfolio

Elton John has announced that his charitable organization, The Elton John AIDS Foundation will auction six important works of contemporary art at Sotheby’s. The sale held on the 10 Nov in New York will include Keith Haring’s untitled 1981 ink-on-paper drawing depicting three men. It is estimated at $50,000 –  $60,000. There will also be pieces by New York artist, Jeff Koons .British artists Tracey Emin and Howard Hodgkin as well as Cecily Brown and Jim Hodges are also offered in the sale.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) was established in the United States in 1992 by Sir Elton John. EJAF’s U.S. office is located in New York City. In 1993, Sir Elton also established the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF-UK) in the United Kingdom, headquartered in London. These two organizations function as separate entities with their own distinct grant-making portfolios, but both pursue similar missions – to support innovative HIV prevention programs, efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, and direct care and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Collectively, the two organizations have raised over $220 million since inception in support of projects in 55 countries around the world, including significant funding dedicated to programs in their respective home countries.

Proceeds from the Sotheby’s sale will benefit the foundation’s initiatives. It is part of a series of art-related events that will mark the foundation’s 20th anniversary in 2012.

The foundation has also created, Photography Portfolio II. This is a collection of ten signed and numbered prints by some of the world’s most outstanding international names in contemporary photography. Proceeds from the sale of this limited edition photography portfolio will support the Foundation’s important work on behalf of urgently needed front-line HIV prevention programs in under-served communities across the United States, the Americas, and the Caribbean.
Each portfolio contains ten original signed and numbered photographs, printed under the supervision of the individual artists, in an edition of 40. Published by Jackson Fine Art, Atlanta, GA, the photographs represented in this unique portfolio were donated to the Foundation by some of the world’s most significant contemporary artists: Tina Barney, Rineke Dijkstra, Elger Esser, Candida Höfer, Chen Jiagang, David LaChapelle, Alex Prager, Ed Ruscha, Hedi Slimane, and Frank Thiel. More Info

Photo:  Rineke Dijkstra Sir Elton John, 2011 Pigmented inkjet print Image size: 14.75 x 17.75 inches Paper size: 20 x 24 inches © 2011 Rineke Dijkstra Courtesy of the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, Paris

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