Come and celebrate and support the arts at The Watermill Center’s Annual Summer Benefit and Auction this Saturday July 27! Discover a unique collection of artworks from celebrated artists Vija Celmins, Roni Horn, Jacqueline Humphries, Shirin Neshat, Robert Longo, Kikuo Saito, and Robert Wilson. All auction proceeds directly support The Watermill Center's Artist-in-Residence program. Since 2006, this initiative has provided artists from around the globe with the resources to innovate and excel. Your participation helps sustain an environment where artists can thrive and interact with the community, enriching their work and fostering professional growth.
Please note that attendance at the gala, where the live auction will take place during dinner, requires the purchase of tickets. Secure your spot now to join us for this remarkable evening: Click Here For Summer Benefit Tickets.
KIKUO SAITO
Spanish Chair II, 2008; Oil on canvas; 40 1/4 x 59 3/4 inches (102.2 x 151.8 cm)
Kikuo Saito (1939-2016) was a Japanese-American painter, sculptor, and theater designer known for his vibrant abstract canvases and lyrical use of color. Saito's works often combine elements of painting and performance, reflecting his background in theater. His art is characterized by bold brushstrokes, dynamic compositions, and a vibrant palette, evoking a sense of movement and emotion. Saito was also a close collaborator of Robert Wilson, contributing his artistic vision to several of Wilson's avant-garde theater productions, including "Deafman Glance" and "A Letter for Queen Victoria." Their collaboration melded visual art and theater, creating immersive and innovative stage environments. (Image courtesy of Kikuo Saito)
ROBERT WILSON
Vessel, 1994-2005; 15 H x 14 dia inches (38.1 H x 35.6 dia cm)
Born in Waco, Texas, Robert Wilson (b. 1941) is among the world’s foremost theater and visual artists. His works for the stage unconventionally integrate a wide variety of artistic media, including dance, movement, lighting, sculpture, music and text. His images are aesthetically striking and emotionally charged, and his productions have earned the acclaim of audiences and critics worldwide. Works made at CIRVA, International Centre for Glass and Plastic Arts Research, in Marseille, France.
ROBERT LONGO
Untitled (After Velazquez, Mars 1640-1642), 2008; Graphite and charcoal on paper; 7 1/2 x 4 inches (19.1 x 10.2 cm); 25 x 20 5/8 x 13/16 inches framed (63.5 x 52.4 x 2.1 cm)
Robert Longo (b. 1953) is an American artist and filmmaker recognized for his large-scale, hyper realistic charcoal drawings. Longo gained prominence in the 1980s with his "Men in the Cities" series, depicting sharply dressed figures in dynamic, almost convulsive poses. His work often addresses themes of power, violence, and media influence, exploring the impact of contemporary culture and politics on society. (Image courtesy of Robert Longo's Studio)
VIJA CELMINS
Saturn Stamps, 1995; Offset lithograph; 12 3/16 x 9 3/8 inches (30.9 x 23.8 cm); Printed and published by Richard Anderson Fine Art, New York
Vija Celmins (b. 1938) is a Latvian-American artist celebrated for her meticulous drawings and paintings of natural phenomena such as ocean waves, starry skies, and desert floors. Celmins' work is characterized by its photorealistic detail and meditative quality, capturing the vastness and intricacy of the natural world. Her art reflects a deep fascination with texture, light, and space. Celmins, along with Robert Wilson, won the prestigious Japanese Praemium Imperiale award, highlighting her significant contribution to the arts. (Image courtesy of Vija Celmins Studio)
SHIRIN NESHAT
Women Without Men (Untitled #2), 2004; C-print; 46 1/4 x 61 5/8 inches (117.5 x 156.5 cm); 49 1/2 x 64 3/4 inches framed (125.7 x 164.5 cm); Edition of 5 + 1 AP
Shirin Neshat (b. 1957) is an Iranian-born artist and filmmaker renowned for her evocative photographs and video installations that explore themes of gender, identity, and power. Neshat's work often focuses on the experiences of women in Islamic societies, blending personal narratives with broader socio-political commentary. Her visually striking and emotionally powerful pieces challenge viewers to confront cultural stereotypes and injustices. In 2011, Neshat was an Artist in Residence at The Watermill Center, a laboratory for the arts and humanities that annually hosts a new community of international artists, where she further developed her distinctive artistic voice. (Image courtesy of Shirin Neshat Studio)
Please note that attendance at the gala, where the live auction will take place during dinner, requires the purchase of tickets. Secure your spot now to join us for this remarkable evening: Click Here For Summer Benefit Tickets.