Sotheby’s Impact Gala: An Outstanding Success
It has been a great week for the Studio with Susan's exceptional Sotheby’s auction debut alongside art luminaries and legends such as Annie Leibovitz, David Hockney, and Ai Weiwei. “Evolution of Nature 24” was featured in Sotheby’s “Contemporary Discoveries” exhibition from September 23rd - October 3rd in New York City. The piece sold in Sotheby's Inaugural Impact Gala auction where 100% of proceeds were donated to Instituto Terra, an ambitious ecosystem reforestation project headed by infamous photographer Sebastiao Salgado. “Evolution of Nature 24” far exceeded auction estimates and garnered one of the highest bid counts of the event. Susan was thrilled with the outcome and was delighted to combine her love of art and the environment to support the pioneering work of Instituto Terra in the flight against climate change in the Brazilian rainforest.
The event drew some exciting press:
VOGUE
"Sotheby’s inaugural Impact Gala was thrown in support of Instituto Terra to aid the fight against Brazilian climate change and reforestation. Camera flashes erupted, Champagne glasses clinked, and enthusiasm for the night to come thunderously echoed." Read the full article here.
TOWN & COUNTRY
ARTNET
"On September 28, Sotheby’s held its first ever Impact Gala, a starry event at its Manhattan headquarters that raised awareness (and a significant amount of money) for Brazil’s Instituto Terra, which focuses on work around climate change intervention. Guests including event co-chair Annie Leibovitz, Francisco Costa, and Fabrizio Moretti took in an exhibition by Sebastião Salgado as well as a performance by Anitta and an auction of work from the likes of David Hockney, Ai Weiwei, and Helmut Newton."
Read the full article here.
"Sebastião Salgado's ‘Magnum Opus’ launches Sotheby’s new Social Impact program, which aims to promote access to art and environmental protection, among other concerns. The initiative will be further marked by the auction house’s first-ever gala, hosted by CEO Charles F. Stewart this week on September 28. In addition to a seated dinner and live performance by Latin popstar Anitta, the event will also include a sale of artworks centered loosely around Earth’s natural treasures, including an archival elephant print by wildlife photographer Michel Ghatan and an abstract acrylic floral painting by Susan Swartz."
Read the full article here.
“Evolution of Nature” was the perfect choice for the gala as Susan’s inspiration has always come from the natural world, and this particular series is her boldest representation to date. Paying tribute to the natural elements that healed her from two environmentally-borne illnesses, the series acknowledges the dichotomy of nature with reverence–capable of ailing and healing, the natural world is both powerful and fragile, deserving of humanity's utmost respect. The Susan Swartz Studios team is thrilled that attendees of the Sotheby’s gala connected so strongly with this work.
“If you truly love nature you will find beauty everywhere”
- Vincent Van Gogh