November 17, 2023 ARTWALK NY returns and raises over $500,000 to benefit the Coalition for the Homeless. Artist Jenny Holzer was the honoree at the event, held at Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, New York. (NEW YORK, NY) – Last night, hundreds of people from New York’s art, philanthropy, business, and activist communities gathered at Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn to celebrate the return of ARTWALK NY, the city’s premier art auction and fundraising gala benefiting the Coalition for the Homeless. This landmark event, which was held last night for the first time since 2019, raised over $500,000 in support of the organization, the nation’s oldest advocacy and direct service organization helping homeless individuals and families. The evening, presented by leading Italian fashion label Max Mara, began with a VIP reception featuring unique and refreshing cocktails by Via Carota. Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director David Giffen welcomed guests and introduced a live auction presided over by Aileen Agopian and supported by framing partner General Art Company and art handling partner UOVO. Auction lots included works by Jeff Koons, Stanley Whitney, Ed Ruscha, Kenny Scharf, and Jenny Holzer. Artist Honoree Jenny Holzer, ARTWALK board members Michelle Hellman, Aileen Agopian and Sarah Stein-Sapir, along with DJ Lina Bradford and guests Sarah Arison, Zoe Buckman, Casey Fremont Crowe, Elizabeth Kurpis and Sai De Silva stunned while dressed in event partner Max Mara’s timeless, luxury styles. The celebration continued as DJ Lina Bradford provided the soundtrack for the evening, spinning tracks spanning dance, deep house, and disco. Guests sipped Tito’s cocktails, beer by Brooklyn-Based Other Half Brewing, and wine from New York-based distributor Skurnik, while perusing the silent auction lots featuring stunning art works by Alex Katz, Guillermo García Cruz, Keith Haring, Russell Young, and Will Cotton, among others. Guests also had the opportunity to view and purchase the Coalition’s limited-edition dinner plates from the Artist Plate Project, knowing that each plate purchased would provide funds that could feed more than 100 homeless and hungry New Yorkers. Attendees then turned their attention to Coalition for the Homeless board chair Barry Berke, who opened the evening program, the highlight of which was the presentation of the 2023 ARTWALK Honoree Award to long-time Coalition supporter Jenny Holzer for her continued artistry, activism, and philanthropic efforts. Holzer shared in her remarks that people “must not be lost, cold, hungry, sleepless, exhausted, disparaged, shivering, hopeless, and abandoned without the means to provide and shelter themselves and those they love, so let’s get on it, right? Time to work.” The fête continued with entertainment by Creatine Price, drag persona of opera singer Jordan Weatherston Pitts. Donning an eighteenth-century inspired ball gown, Price serenaded guests with arias and operatic renditions of theater and pop songs. Notable guests for the evening included ARTWALK Advisory board chair Mike De Paola and members Aileen Agopian (auctioneer), Janis Gardner Cecil, Lara Cocken, Michelle Hellman, Natalie Kates, Amy Rosi, Suzanne Siano, and Sarah Stein-Sapir. Artists in attendance were honoree Jenny Holzer, Sean Augustine March, Vicky Barranguet, Ryan Brown, C.J. Chueca, Sophie Elgort, David Jacobs, Stephanie Ketty, Benjamin King, Austin Lee, LILKOOL, Marisol Martinez, Robert Melee, Emilio Perez, Dana Robinson, Jamel Robinson, and Lorna Simpson, among others. Additional guests were Lora Appleton, Sarah Arison, Zoe Buckman, Kayce Freed Jennings, David Price, Casey Fremont Crowe, Vincent and Shelly Fremont, Dave Harper, Sarah Hoover, Elizabeth Kurpis, Polina Proshkina, Eric Shiner, Sai De Silva, Helen Toomer, Valentine Uhovski, and Eli Zabar among others. Proceeds from ARTWALK NY raise critical funds to support the Coalition’s 11 lifesaving programs that provide emergency food and clothing, eviction prevention, crisis services, permanent housing, job training and programs for youth to more than 3,500 homeless and at-risk individuals each day. The event also helps raise awareness about the homelessness crisis and the Coalition’s ongoing fight for the proven, humane, and cost-effective solutions that will end mass homelessness once and for all. Photo Galleries Patrick McMullan BFA – Jason Lowrie/BFA.com BFA – Miguel McSongwe/BFA.com For Press Inquiries THIRD EYE Van Lundsgaard van@hellothirdeye.com | 612-516-6369
