Neil Rasmus, Yvonne Tnt, Deonté Lee/BFA.com New York, NY – Last night, hundreds of artists, art lovers, and compassionate New Yorkers gathered to celebrate the profound impact of the arts community and support the vital work of the Coalition For The Homeless at ARTWALK NY, the city’s premier art auction and fundraising gala. The landmark event raised over $1,000,000 in support of the Coalition’s programs that serve thousands of homeless and low-income individuals every day. Presented once again by Max Mara, the event took place at The GRILL | The POOL, in New York’s iconic Seagram Building, honoring acclaimed artist Sheree Hovsepian and Michelle Hellman, Founder of the Artist Plate Project. The night began with a cocktail reception in The Grill and silent auction from the Artist Plate Project powered by The Auction Collective. During cocktail hour, DJ AKU provided the ambience as guests bid on nearly 100 unique works of arts, each individually created by celebrated artists on a plate of fine bone china. Highlights included original plates by Angel Otero, Cecily Brown, David Shrigley, Eddie Martinez, Ferrari Sheppard, Fred Tomaselli, Futura aka Leonard McGurr, Hank Willis Thomas, Hilary Pecis, Idris Khan, Jenny Holzer, Joel Mesler, Jose Parla, Josh Smith, Jules de Balincourt, Julia Chiang, Karon Davis, Katherina Grosse, Katherine Bernhardt, KAWS, Laura Owens, Leelee Kimmel, Lily Stockman, Loie Hollowell, Ludovic Nkoth, Matt DiGiacomo, Oliver Lee Jackson, Rashid Johnson, Sam Falls, Sam Moyer, Sanya Kantarovsky, Sean Scully, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Urs Fischer, and Yoshitomo Nara, among others. Following the cocktail reception, guests moved into The Pool for a seated dinner, where the Coalition’s Executive Director Dave Giffen welcomed guests, sharing, “At a time when hunger and homelessness are increasing so dramatically, all of us at the Coalition for the Homeless are thankful that there are people like Michelle Helman, Sheree Hovsepian, and all of the artists who give so much of their time and talent to helping New Yorkers in need. These amazing artist plates are really a perfect metaphor for illustrating the commitment of the arts community to making sure that the poorest among us have food on their table, clothes on their backs, and a roof over their heads. The $8 million raised by the Artist Plate Project over the past five years has already had an immense impact on the lives of homeless New Yorkers, and this year’s ARTWALK NY is such a wonderful opportunity to save even more lives.” Giffen then introduced artist Rashid Johnson who presented the evening’s honors to his wife and fellow artist Sheree Hovsepian for her continued artistry, activism and philanthropic efforts. “Sherry” by the Four Seasons played as she walked up to accept her honors. Hovsepian shared in her remarks, “I’m deeply honored to be recognized tonight by the Coalition for the Homeless and ARTWALK NY—It is a reminder that art is not only about beauty and expression, but also about empathy and action.” Following Hovsepian, ARTWALK NY Art Advisory Board Chair Mike De Paola presented honors to the Philanthropic Honoree, Michelle Hellman, for her continued support of ARTWALK NY as a longtime core member of the Art Advisory Board and for helming the Artist Plate Project. Hellman shared, “The generosity of so many artists who’ve joined this project has moved me more than I can say. I’ve seen artists give their time, their creativity, and their hearts to help New Yorkers who are struggling simply because they believe in kindness. That kind of generosity is the real art.” Later in the evening, auctioneer Aileen Agopian presided over a live auction featuring lots from honoree Sheree Hovsepian and Ed Ruscha. Support for the auctions was provided by donating artists, auction partner The Auction Collective, framing partner General Art Company, plate production partner Atelier Eighty-Eight and art stewardship partner UOVO: Art, Fashion and Wine. Notable guests for the evening included Honorees Sheree Hovsepian & Michelle Hellman, Executive Director of the Coalition of the Homeless Dave Giffen and attendees including Jenny Mollen & Jason Biggs, Sai De Silva, Don Lemon & Tim Malone, Stacey Griffith, Sarah Arison, Thelma Golden, Sarah Hoover, Casey Fremont, Charlotte Groenveld, Zoe Buckman, Rashid Johnson, Joel Mesler, Eddie Martinez & Sam Moyer, Angel Otero, Nazy Nazhand, Rachel Uffner, Marlies Verhoeven, Helen Lee, Mickalene Thomas, Sarah Harrelson, Christian Notari, Nancy Rogers, Leelee Kimmel, and Dustin Yellin, Rujeko Hockley, Helen Lee, Kimmy Scotti, Rachel Uffner, Arden Wohl, Jody Patterson, Claire Olshan, Isabel Wilkinson, Jules de Balincourt, Freja Harrel, Kyle DeWoody, Hayal Pozanti and Ferrari Sheppard. Proceeds from ARTWALK NY 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 for thousands of homeless and at-risk individuals each day. The event also helps raise awareness about the housing and 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. Three more exceptional works – from Katherine Bradford, Stanley Whitney, and Joan Snyder – will be available through Phillips Auction House on Friday, November 21st, during the Modern & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Morning Session and Afternoon Session. Photo Gallery Selects: Neil Rasmus, Yvonne Tnt, Deonté Lee/BFA.com About the Artist Plate Project Launched by Michelle Hellman and the Coalition for the Homeless in 2020 at the peak of the pandemic, the Artist Plate Project has to-date partnered with more than 250 world-renowned artists to design and create unique dinner plates in limited editions. The funds raised by sale of plates provide food, crisis services, housing, and other critical aid to thousands of people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. About Max Mara Max Mara, founded in 1951 by the late visionary Achille Maramotti, is one of the highest expressions of Italian luxury and style. A contemporary collection of ready-to-wear and accessories for the remarkable woman. Recognized for its timeless designs and its luxurious fabrics, Max Mara is revered for the classification of the absolute coat, sharp suiting and modern accessories. Max Mara is distributed in 2,300 locations in more than 100 countries worldwide. The Max Mara Fashion Group counts nine different brands. The company remains privately held and managed by the Maramotti family. About the Coalition for the Homeless The Coalition for the Homeless is the nation’s oldest advocacy and direct service organization helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness. We believe that affordable housing, sufficient food, and the chance to work for a living wage are fundamental rights in a civilized society. Since our inception in 1981, the Coalition has worked through litigation, public education, and direct services to ensure that these goals are realized, and in that time, we have given more than one million homeless New Yorkers a way off the streets. More people are homeless in NYC now than at any time since the Great Depression. The Coalition for the Homeless is there to provide lifesaving relief to thousands of homeless and low-income New Yorkers each and every day — and its work is more important now than ever before. The challenges have never been greater, as the massive cuts to federal programs that provided food, healthcare, and housing are pushing even more people into homelessness. But the Coalition remains on the frontlines every day, helping the most vulnerable among us while developing and fighting for the long-term solutions that will end mass homelessness once and for all.
