Last week in Aspen, the distinguished Aspen Art Museum’s third annual Aspen Art Week came to an effervescent close with the 19th annual ArtCrush Gala. More than 600 local and international glitterati delighted in the premier institution’s 45th anniversary, as well as the 10th anniversary of its iconic edifice designed by architect Shigeru Ban. For the first time in Aspen Art Week history, three pivotal creatives were honored: Ban, artist Jacqueline Humphries, and composer and artist Jason Moran.
ArtCrush History is Made with $4.5 Million Raised
Domenico De Sole, Eleanore De Sole, Thomas Wilhelm, Sarah Arison, Nicola Lees, Jack Carter, Charlie Pohlad, Jen Rubio, Stewart Butterfield; Aspen Art Museum Presents ArtCrush 2024, courtesy of BFA and Aspen Art Museum.
At the tranquil base of Buttermilk Mountain, jubilant guests encountered the much-anticipated ArtCrush Gala auction with significant new collaborator Christie’s, where 12 live lots caused quite a stir, as did the more than 50 donated, materful artworks as part of a sweeping online auction. Spearheaded by Adrien Meyer, Global Head of Private Sales and Co-Chairman of Impressionist & Modern Art at Christie’s, this year’s revelatory auction made ArtCrush history with $4.5 million raised to ensure the museum’s continued, year-round curatorial and educational projects.
Artwork by Alex Israel and Kennedy Yanko Spark a Lively Auction
Brian Donnelly, Kennedy Yanko; Aspen Art Museum Presents ArtCrush 2024, courtesy of BFA and Aspen Art Museum.
Organized by the Aspen Art Museum’s notable Collector Committee, which is dynamically Co-Chaired by Abigail Ross Goodman and Molly Epstein, tremendous donations from both galleries and artists included the pioneering creatives of out time, such as Alex Israel, Allison Katz, Emma McIntyre, Robert Nava, Naudline Pierre, Marina Rheingantz, Kathleen Ryan, Marina Pérez Simão, Emmi Whitehorse, Kennedy Yanko, Jonathan Lyndon Chase, Alicja Kwade, Marley Freeman, and Delcy Morelos.
An amplified collective of Gala Co-Chairs, with Sarah Arison, Thomas Wilhelm, Jen Rubio, Stewart Butterfield, Charlie Pohlad, Jack Carter, Eleanore and Domenico De Sole, was the icing on the cake for ArtCrush’s most spirited edition yet.
The Pursuit of Collaboration, Transformation, and Imagination at the heart of Aspen Art Museum
Shigeru Ban, Jacqueline Humphries, Jason Moran; Aspen Art Museum Presents ArtCrush 2024, courtesy of BFA and Aspen Art Museum.
“I am energized by the enthusiastic response to this year’s special anniversary edition of Aspen ArtWeek, and to have welcomed visitors from all over the world to participate in the program we have been building and growing since we first staged it four years ago,” said Nicola Lees, the Nancy and Bob Magoon Director of Aspen Art Museum.
Hans Ulrich Obrist, Alex Israel; Aspen Art Museum Presents ArtCrush 2024, courtesy of BFA and Aspen Art Museum.
“Last year, we went into the belly of the mountain, and this year we ascended to its apex with an unprecedented and new commission led by Ryan Trecartin. Our honorees, artist Jacqueline Humphries, architect Shigeru Ban, and artist and composer Jason Moran, exemplify the pursuit of collaboration, transformation, and imagination that are at the heart of this institution. Our new, expanded group of Gala Co-Chairs brought palpable energy to our ArtCrush auction, and I am thankful to everyone who contributed to the phenomenal result, which plays such a vital role in allowing the museum to help realize artists’ unprecedented visions.”
“I am energized by the enthusiastic response to this year’s special anniversary edition of Aspen ArtWeek,”
–Nicola Lees
Sasha Bass; Aspen Art Museum Presents ArtCrush 2024, courtesy of BFA and Aspen Art Museum.
“It has been an immense honor to work collaboratively with Aspen Art Museum, the contributing artists, galleries, guests and supporters who made ArtCrush such a success,” added the Gala Co-Chairs. “The ArtCrush gala and the events of ArtWeek have become generative gatherings for art lovers worldwide. Friday night allowed us to come together around art and artists and achieve record breaking auction results ensuring the continued support of Aspen Art Museum’s artistic-centric mission.”
