Virtual Live and Silent Auctions to Feature More Than 325 Works from Notable Art World Names, Emerging Artists & Pieces Inspired by the COVID-19 Pandemic
BOSTON (March 8, 2021) — Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) today announced its 32nd MassArt Auction, marking the second year that the event will be hosted online using leading virtual auction platform Bidsquare. Participants can visit massartauction.org/bid to register for the Live and Silent Auctions, which will offer more than 325 works by renowned artists including Blane De St. Croix ’79, Emily Eveleth ’87, Stanley Whitney and Kehinde Wiley, as well as rising art world talents. The works featured in this year’s auction span a variety of mediums such as painting, jewelry, sculpture and photography. Notably, some pieces reflect momentous events from the past year, including work inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic by Ellen Shattuck Pierce, Will Kastrinakis ’21 and Carly Blais ’15.
The virtual Live Auction will be held on Saturday, April 10 at 8:00 p.m. ET, and will once again be conducted by auctioneer and CEO of Skinner Auction House Karen Keane who is also a MassArt Trustee.
In addition to the opportunity to purchase works in the Live and Silent Auctions, MassArt will host for the first time four virtual preview parties that are free and open to the public. Preview party attendees may choose to participate in a selection of breakout sessions to learn more about the artwork featured in this year’s auction, watch artmaking process demonstrations, meet the artists, and learn about collecting art from industry professionals.
Sample Preview Party Breakout Sessions (for the full list visit massartauction.org)
- An Introduction to Art Jewelry (3/31, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. ET)
- Auction Gallery Partners Libby and Jo Anne Cooper (Owners, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA)
- Auction Committee member and collector Karen Rotenberg
- Auction Committee member Heather White (MassArt Professor, Fine Arts 3D, Jewelry, and Metalsmithing)
- Why Art Matters in Interior Design (4/1, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET)
- Auction Co-chair Elizabeth Lowrey (Principal and Director of Interior Architecture, Elkus Manfredi Architects)
- Auction sponsor Emily Santangelo (Founder and President, Emily Fine Art)
- Preview of MassArt’s 2021 Live Auction artwork (4/5, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. ET)
- Auction Gallery Partner Jeff Bergman (Director, Pace Prints, New York City)
- Auction Committee member Lisa Tung (Executive Director, MassArt Art Museum)
- Auction Gallery Partner Andrew Witkin (Partner, Krakow Witkin Gallery, Boston)
- Building Conscious Collections & Becoming Cultural Caretakers (4/7, 12:00 – 1 p.m. ET)
- Auction Gallery Partner Abigail Ogilvy (Owner & Director, Abigail Ogilvy Gallery)
- Auction Committee member Mallory Ruymann (Principal/Head of Curatorial Projects, art_works)
The 32nd Auction Committee is co-chaired by Daren Bascome (’93 BFA Graphic Design, MassArt Trustee, and Founder of Proverb brand agency) and Elizabeth Lowrey (‘19 Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts, MassArt Foundation Board Member, and Principal and Director of Interior Architecture at Elkus Manfredi Architects). The Auction Committee selected the artwork through a jury process from over 1,400 submissions. Auction artists have the choice of contributing 50% or 100% of the sale to MassArt and all proceeds from the event go to MassArt student scholarships and academic programs. The annual MassArt Auction has raised over $1 million for the past six consecutive years.
Full Schedule of Events
- Virtual Live Auction on Bidsquare.com
- April 10, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Virtual Silent Auction on Bidsquare.com
- March 27, 12:00 p.m. – April 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m. ET
- New this year! Virtual Preview Parties
- March 31, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. ET
- April 1, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.ET
- April 5, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
- April 7, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
For additional information, visit massartauction.org and follow MassArt on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Get the latest Auction updates by following and tagging #massartauction.
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About Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) is a public, independent institution that prepares artists, designers, and educators to shape communities, economies, and cultures for the common good. Since 1873, MassArt has built a legacy of leadership as the first freestanding public college of art and design in the country, and the nation’s first art school to grant a degree. MassArt offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in art, design, and art education, taught by world-class faculty.
