The MassArt Auction has had an enormous impact on me. When I was a senior, I sold a print in the silent auction—it was the first or maybe second piece I ever sold. A work of art doesn’t exist without a viewer, so knowing that someone wanted my work enough to live with it, let alone part with any money, just felt amazing. And it was so affirming to see it included in such an exciting exhibition. 

Over the years, I’ve given at least 20 pieces, and I’ve come to meet many people who’ve collected my work or discovered it for the first time through the Auction. If someone’s interested in your work—even if they’re not buying it—they come and find you. And that’s incredibly important because there’s no substitute for having a conversation in front of your work with someone curious about it. Many of the relationships I made through the Auction have become very meaningful and important to me. It’s the difference between meeting a consumer, someone who purchases an object for the sake of possession, versus a collector who’s more interested in a sense of stewardship or a patron who wants to get to know the artist. They see those acquisitions as an investment in the future work of the artist. And making those connections is invaluable. 

The Auction is a fun party, but it isn’t just about the event itself, or even the exhibition of work. It’s about the collective understanding that everything there is made by people who have a deep connection to the school, whether they’re current students, alumni, or faculty. And it’s about investing in students’ education, and by extension, investing in the work they’re making. The artists participating in the Auction believe in that mission as deeply as anyone, and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to take part and give artwork that has translated into resources for students.