MassArt’s 37th Annual Auction Brings Together Top Artists, Inspires Community, and Supports the Next Generation of Creative Leaders
- Press Release
Massachusetts College of Art and Design’s signature fundraising event supports academic programs and student success, ensuring access to a world-class art and design education.
BOSTON, MA, February 25, 2026 —The MassArt Auction, one of the Boston art community’s most anticipated art and design events, returns for its 37th year on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 6:30pm to 11:00pm. Celebrating creativity and the power of art to transform lives, the Auction brings together internationally recognized artists and alumni, faculty, and emerging student talent of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and provides a vital source of support for MassArt students. Reaching art collectors and enthusiasts across the country, MassArt Auction bidding will take place online via Bidsquare.
“The MassArt Auction is a powerful expression of what happens when a creative community comes together with purpose,” said MassArt President Mary K. Grant. “Each year, this event helps open doors for our talented students, ensuring that artists and designers from all backgrounds have the opportunity to learn, grow, and shape the cultural and creative landscape of the future.”
The MassArt Auction has raised more than $1 million per year over the past decade, with proceeds directly funding resources for students and academic programs to make an exceptional art and design education accessible to all. Featuring nearly 350 works of art selected from over 1,300 submissions, the MassArt Auction offers a rare opportunity to collect one-of-a-kind pieces by emerging talents, rising stars, and internationally renowned artists. From striking contemporary paintings and thought-provoking sculptures to finely crafted jewelry and original works, the Auction showcases an extraordinary range of artistic expression.
Photo by Melissa Ostrow.
Led for the seventh year by esteemed Auction Co-Chair Elizabeth Lowrey (H’19), and joined this year by Marc Wurbel, PhD, as Auction co-chair, the 37th Auction Committee meticulously selected this year’s artwork through a juried process.
“Collectors across the country are once again eagerly awaiting their chance to discover emerging artists as well as established talent,” explains Elizabeth Lowrey H’19, Auction Committee Chair, MassArt Foundation Director, and a Principal at Elkus Manfredi Architects. “Proceeds from the MassArt Auction provide financial assistance so that students can achieve a life-changing education and complete their college degree. These graduates fuel the country’s creative economy.”
“Art and design shape how we understand the world and imagine what comes next,” said Marc Wurbel, PhD, Auction Co-Chair. “Events like the MassArt Auction ensure that talented students have access to a world-class art education, deepen their creative practices, and contribute to that larger cultural conversation.”
This year’s Auction brings together a compelling mix of Live and Silent Auction highlights, spanning internationally recognized figures and artists deeply connected to the MassArt community. Live Auction standouts include works by Cindy Sherman and Alex Katz, alongside artists such as Kara Walker, Julian Opie, Tara Donovan, and Do Ho Suh, reflecting a wide spectrum of contemporary practice. Sherman’s Untitled (Under the WTC) (1980/2001) exemplifies her influential use of staged photography to examine identity and perception, while Katz’s Marisa (2017), a woodcut from an edition of 42, showcases his signature clarity of line and distilled portrait style that has shaped American figurative painting for decades.
Alex Katz, “Marisa,” 2017. Courtesy of the artist and Krakow Witkin Gallery. Lot 22 featured in this year’s 2026 Live Auction.
The Silent Auction further expands this range, featuring blue-chip artists such as Robert Kushner and Donald Baechler, alongside celebrated Boston-based artist L’Merchie Frazier. The selection also highlights strong ties to the College, with work by alumni and faculty including Alice Denison and sculptor Garrett Gould, who also teaches at MassArt. A special Silent Auction highlight is a unique commission experience from alum-owned New Impressions Print Studio, offering collectors the opportunity to engage directly in the printmaking process. Together, the Live and Silent Auctions showcase both established voices and emerging talent, underscoring MassArt’s role at the intersection of artistic excellence and creative community.
Another highlight of the evening is “Raise Your Paddle,” a special fundraising initiative benefiting student success at MassArt by providing critical financial support to help students graduate on time with as little debt as possible.
More than just an auction, this event is a celebration of art, generosity, and the future of creative education. Whether you’re an experienced collector or a first-time buyer, the MassArt Auction offers an extraordinary opportunity to support artists, invest in education, and bring home a remarkable piece of art.
Bidding will take place online via Bidsquare, with both the Live and Silent Auctions opening on April 4 at noon EST. Interested collectors are encouraged to register online with Bidsquare in advance of April 4. Silent Auction bidding closes on April 12 at noon EST. Silent Auction artwork can be purchased outright at 150% of value by using the “Buy Now” feature in Bidsquare between noon on April 4 and noon on April 10.
For sponsorship opportunities, tickets, and more information, visit massart.edu/auction.
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About MassArt
The only independent public college of art and design in the country, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) was founded in 1873 in response to a bold idea: art and design are essential to our daily lives, and key to improving our society and economy. What began as a school to teach drawing is today a bold, comprehensive art and design institution that spans 18 undergraduate and nine graduate programs, certificates, continuing education, and post-baccalaureate study.
Media Contact
Temple Gill
Interim Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
tgill@massart.edu
617-879-7068
