Hauser & Wirth’s co-presidents Iwan Wirth, Manuela Wirth, and Marc Payot have announced the gallery’s new “Artists for New York” initiative in support of the city’s arts organizations. Conceived in response to the massive impact the COVID-19 pandemic has brought on the arts community, on October 1, the gallery will launch a major online sale of works featuring donations by over 100 artists to raise funds for vulnerable arts spaces throughout New York City.
As arts institutions all over the world are experiencing financial difficulties from extended closures, the funds raised may be critical in helping beneficiaries continue their work providing accessible arts and culture to the city. Organized by Payot in conjunction with the involved institutions, the sale will benefit fourteen smaller-scale visual arts organizations—including Artists Space, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Dia Art Foundation, The Drawing Center, El Museo del Barrio, High Line Art, MoMA PS1, New Museum, Public Art Fund, Queens Museum, SculptureCenter, The Studio Museum in Harlem, Swiss Institute, and White Columns—along with nonprofits The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.
Jenny Holzer, from “Survival” (1983–85), 2020; © 2020 Jenny Holzer, member Artist Rights Society (ARS), photo by Graham Kelman, courtesy of the artist.
“As we looked ahead to the fall and how best to emerge from this challenging time, it was clear to Iwan, Manuela, and myself, as well as our artists, that we couldn’t simply proceed with ‘business as usual’ without also addressing the very real needs of the non-profit organizations that have become our community since our gallery first opened in New York City in 2009,” said Payot.
With many of the works on view at Hauser & Wirth’s two New York galleries from October 1—22, Jenny Holzer sets the tone for the initiative with her artwork reading “In a Dream You Saw a Way to Survive and You Were Full of Joy” in great glowing letters. “Artists for New York” also features work by names (both from the gallery’s roster and outside) like Camille Henrot, Ebony G. Patterson, Lee Ufan, Huma Bhabha, Marilyn Minter, Ai Weiwei, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Lawrence Weiner, Kara Walker, Sarah Sze, Paul McCarthy, Lorna Simpson, Simone Leigh, Laurie Simmons, Angel Otero, Derrick Adams, and Sanford Biggers.
Kelly Akashi, “Feel Me (Flesh),” 2020, Hand-blown glass and bronze, 7 x 8 1/2 x 9 inches; courtesy of the Artist, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York and François Ghebaly Gallery, Los Angeles.
Angel Otero, “Sleepy Fire,” 2020, Oil paint and fabric collaged on canvas, 84 x 86 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches; courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York, Hong Kong, and Seoul.
Lorna Simpson, “Haze,” 2019, Ink and screenprint on gessoed fiberglass, Unique, 108 x 96 x 1 3/8 inches; © Lorna Simpson, photo by James Wang, courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth.
