Add another item to your Design Miami calendar—Sotheby's is bringing its high-design offerings to the Florida's buzziest city this December. AD100 architect David Adjaye and artist Theaster Gates—in collaboration with musician Bono—have curated the third Sotheby's (RED) Auction to benefit the fight against AIDS. Sotheby's first two (RED) auctions in 2008 and 2013 raised a total of $68 million, which funded HIV/AIDS programs in Africa. Proceeds from this sale will support community-driven AIDS programs in Africa as well as the Rebuild Foundation, a Chicago-based cultural development organization founded by Gates.
Works of contemporary art and high design by the likes of Jeff Koons, Frank Gehry, and Ai Weiwei, and Marilyn Minter will hit the block alongside unique pieces by Adjaye and Gates on December 5. To see the works ahead of the sale, Gagosian is organizing a viewing exhibition at Miami's iconic Moore Building, opening December 1.
“I like the idea of using art and culture to generate awareness and support for people to get healthy," Gates said in a statement. There are amazing stories of what happens through access to life-saving anti-retroviral medication, but the fight is only at the halfway point. This is a dangerous time because people think AIDS isn't a threat anymore. We have to keep the pressure on and get new generations involved at home if we’re going to put an end to AIDS once and for all.”
Adjaye echoed Gates' sentiments. In a statement, he said, “When Theaster called me, I was immediately in. Having the opportunity to champion an initiative that has this kind of direct impact is truly rewarding and I feel very humbled by the fact so many talented contributors and artists are joining us to shine a light on something that’s so fixable in our lifetime."