Tonight is the night Aspen has been waiting for: ArtCrush 2018, the Aspen Art Museum’s 14^th annual benefit. Featuring a silent and live auction, a cocktail hour before a seated dinner, an Aspen Award for Art presentation to Rashid Johnson, and more, the night is also a warm welcome to those returning to Aspen for good company and great art.

“I’m excited to see many old friends with a reason to celebrate,” said Johnson.

Last night during PreviewCrush at Baldwin Gallery and Casterline | Goodman, we got a sneak peek at what will be included in the auction. At Baldwin Gallery, we were greeted by founder Richard Edwards, and at Casterline | Goodman, we were welcomed by co-founder Robert Casterline. And while collectors, artists, and like-minded art patrons mingled with wine and champagne, they took notes on works soon-to-be for sale that caught their attention.

“I really love it when ArtCrush connects to our exhibition program. To have a Larry Bell that was made for us, just like the sculptures up on the roof, ‘Aspen Blues,’ were made for us, and to have a Jay DeFeo work from the estate that’s actually in the exhibition…it’s totally phenomenal. It’s amazing when we have that opportunity,” said the Aspen Art Museum’s Nancy and Bob Magoon CEO and Director, Heidi Zuckerman. “Sometimes you also have a wish-list, or a ‘crush’ list, and Josh Smith has always been on my list. And he donated an incredible work to ArtCrush this year.”

Between the two galleries, we also saw highlights like: Checkerboard by Pepe Mar; Bedroom 3 by Marcus Jansen; Still-Start The Western Fire by Jim Dine; Mother Sky by Jay Heikes; HP (kdkgs) by Kasper Sonne; Untitled (Brown TRaditional Pot) by Ruby Neri; Untitled (Continental Colors) by Piotr Uklański; Small Cloud Drawing by Leo Villareal; Decadence Upon Decadence (Silver) by Carlos Rolón; route one: box two: ix by McArthur Binion; Untitled (Boundary) by Ben Durham; and Untitled Escape Collage by Rashid Johnson.

pepe mar

PreviewCrush Teases ArtCrush 2018 Auction with Striking New Works