A RECORD $8.3 MILLION RAISED AT 2015 TWO x TWO FOR AIDS AND ART
Over $60 Million Raised for amfAR and Dallas Museum of Art
Over 17 Year History of Event
Artist Ellsworth Kelly Piece Goes for $2.3 Million
Presenting Sponsors: Harry Winston and Audi of America
DALLAS (October 25, 2015) – On Saturday, October 24, the 17th annual TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art benefit dinner and contemporary art auction raised a record $8.3 million with funds benefiting amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and the Dallas Museum of Art.
Five hundred people attended the sold-out black-tie event, chaired by noted philanthropist, art patron and longtime TWO x TWO supporter, Nancy C. Rogers and hosted annually by Cindy and Howard Rachofsky at their Richard Meier-designed home, The Rachofsky House.
“The success of Saturday night’s event is due to the unmatched generosity of the artists, gallerists and TWO x TWO supporters from across the United States and overseas. Their commitment is unparalleled and their donations of amazing art has allowed us to raise $8.3 million, bringing our 17 year total to over $60 million. TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art continues to play a very vital role in fundraising for both amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art,” said Howard Rachofsky.
The fundraising total was announced this morning by 2015 Gala chairman Nancy Rogers at a private brunch sponsored by U.S. Trust and hosted by Cindy and Howard Rachofsky and Amy Faulconer. The brunch event was held at The Warehouse, a private art storage facility, owned by the Rachofskys and Faulconers, which includes an extensive library and 18,000 square feet of exhibition space.
Gavin Delahunty, the Dallas Museum of Art Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, spoke about artist Ellsworth Kelly and his noted body of work.
“Standing in front of an amazing Ellsworth Kelly here at The Warehouse, I want to thank everyone who supported TWO x TWO 2015. White Form, the piece auctioned last night at the Gala, is a museum quality masterpiece. On behalf of Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, I want to express our deep gratitude to Ellsworth for his generosity and his friendship,” said Mr. Delahunty.
Eric Muscatell, Vice President of Development, amfAR, presented Ellsworth Kelly with amfAR’s 2015 Award of Excellence for Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS.
Mr. Kelly was unable to attend the event; he saw the presentation via a video feed. The award, a beautiful Harry Winston Midnight Timepiece, was gifted to Mr. Kelly.
Presenting Sponsors for the Saturday evening gala were Harry Winston, Inc. and Audi of America.
In addition to serving as the night’s presenting sponsor, Harry Winston, Inc., also donated its Premier Ladies Timepiece for the event’s silent auction and presented honorees – artist Ellsworth Kelly and event producer Todd Fiscus – with a Harry Winston Midnight Timepiece, for their contributions to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS. Mr. Fiscus received the award in honor of his $1 million donation of in-kind services to TWO x TWO over the years.
The weekend of activities was designed by Mr. Fiscus of TODD Events, who carried out a Technicolor theme within the Freedome, a 7,000-square-foot geodesic dome which stood at 48 feet tall in the center and seated the 500 gala guests.
The night included a Dom Pérignon and Belvedere cocktail reception and an art and luxury item silent auction, followed by a seated, multi-course dinner. The evening began with thank yous to the sponsors and artists by Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, Nancy Rogers and Gavin Delahunty.
Serving as the master of ceremonies for the Gala, acclaimed actor Teddy Sears introduced a “sponsor thank you” video by longtime amfAR and TWO x TWO supporter, actor John Benjamin Hickey and then later in the evening Mr. Sears introduced featured entertainer Robin Thicke, singer-songwriter.
There were 127 works of art offered in the live and silent auctions this year. The live auction, conducted by Jamie Niven, longtime TWO x TWO auctioneer, featured White Form by 2015 amfAR honoree Ellsworth Kelly, which sold for $2.3 million.
The annual black-tie gala, part of a week-long series of events, is the largest U.S. fundraiser for amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art. Since its inception, TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art has raised over $60 million in support of essential AIDS research at amfAR and for the Contemporary Art Acquisitions Fund at the Dallas Museum of Art.
VIPs and Sponsors in attendance were:
- Cindy and Howard Rachofsky – TWO x TWO Hosts
- Robin Thicke – Singer-songwriter and featured performer at 2015 Gala
- Teddy and Milissa Sears – Actor and master of ceremonies at 2015 Gala
- Nancy C. Rogers – Gala chairman
- Melissa Ireland – TWO x TWO Director
- Gavin Delahunty – The Hoffman Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, Dallas Museum of Art
- Eric Muscatell – Director of Development, amfAR
- Federico Boido – Presenting Sponsor – Harry Winston
- Michele Gregory – Presenting Sponsor – AUDI of America
- Platinum Sponsors
- Jamie Niven – longtime TWO x TWO Auctioneer
- Peggy Lanigan – Dom Pérignon
- Gold Sponsors
- Nancy Nasher and David Haemisegger –NorthPark Center
Notable Attendees and Donors
- Olya Sinistaya and Andy Beal
- John and Jennifer Eagle
- Tim Headington
- Marguerite Steed Hoffman
- Deedie and Rusty Rose
- Lisa and John Runyon
Artists
- Kathryn Andrews
- Nathan Carter
- Sarah Crowner
- Liam Everett
- Piero Golia
- Tony Horton
- Alex Israel
- Wyatt Kahn
- Jacob Kassay
- Douglas Little
- Olivier Mosset
- Shuji Mukai
- Richard Phillips (past amfAR honoree)
- Josh Reames
- Noritaka Tatehana
- Quinn Tivey (Elizabeth Taylor’s grandson/amfAR)
- Kon Trubkovich
Dealers/Gallerists
- Josee Bienvenue
- Gavin Brown
- Stephen Friedman
- Darragh Hogan
- Casey Kaplan
- David Kordansky
- Michele Maccarone
- Fergus McCaffrey
- Anthony Meier
- Almine Ruiz-Picasso
Fashion-Lifestyle-Culture
- Vika Gazinskaya (fashion designer)
- Sabine Ghanem Getty (jewelry designer)
- Prabal Gurung (fashion designer)
- Nasiba and Thomas Hartland-Mackie (international fashion blogger)
- Thomas Keller and Laura Cunningham (restaurateur; French Laundry, Per Se)
- Adam Lippes (fashion designer)
- Jamie Niven (TWO x TWO auctioneer; Chairman-North & South America, Sotheby’s)
- Edgardo Osorio (Creative Director and Founder, Aquazzura)
- Peter Pilotto (fashion designer)
- Chris Salgardo (President, Kiehl’s Since 1851)
- Jeremy Scott (Moschino, created the haute couture dress for 2015 chairman, Nancy Rogers)
- Emilia Wickstead (fashion designer)
Over the years, previous VIP celebrity guests at TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art events have included Alan Cumming, a dedicated supporter of TWO x TWO who has made numerous appearances at the event as both emcee and as a featured performer; Taylor Dayne, CeeLo Green, John Benjamin Hickey, Cheyenne Jackson, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Shirley MacLaine, Barry Manilow, Gilles Marini, Jesse Metcalfe, Liza Minnelli, Natasha Richardson, Gavin Rossdale, Teddy Sears, Sharon Stone, Robin Thicke, Stanley Tucci, Diane Von Furstenberg, Dita Von Teese and Sigourney Weaver.
Renowned artists Cecily Brown, Peter Doig, Tom Friedman, April Gornik, Mark Grotjahn, Wade Guyton, Jim Hodges, Ellsworth Kelly, Elizabeth Peyton, Richard Phillips, Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, Julian Schnabel, Joel Shapiro, Luc Tuymans and Christopher Wool have been honored over the past 16 years of TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art.
The week-long festivities leading up to the TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art Gala included the First Look presented by Fossil® preview party on Thursday, October 22. The “Calling All Things Curious” themed evening, designed by TODD Events, was hosted by Elaine Agather, chairman of JP Morgan Chase, and her daughter, Bradley Agather Means, fashion editor of FD. The ever-popular, ultimate music curator DJ Lucy Wrubel rocked the tunes, while guests enjoyed culinary creations from Lombardi Family Concepts, cocktails by Belvedere Vodka and gifts from Fossil.
For more information, please visit www.twoxtwo.org.
About TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art
Since its inception, TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art has raised more than $60 million in support of essential AIDS research initiatives at amfAR and for the Contemporary Art Acquisitions Fund at the Dallas Museum of Art. To date, over 190 exceptional works of art have been acquired by the Dallas Museum of Art with proceeds from TWO x TWO exclusively from dealers and artists who have supported TWO x TWO in the past. This reinvestment strategy creates a synergistic partnership designed to benefit all associated with the event. TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art is the largest U.S. fundraiser for both amfAR and the Dallas Museum of Art and is recognized as one of the premiere fundraising events in the United States.
TWO x TWO FOR AIDS AND ART BENEFICIARIES
amfAR, founded in 1985, is dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research. With the freedom and flexibility to respond quickly to emerging areas of scientific promise, amfAR plays a catalytic role in accelerating the pace of HIV/AIDS research and achieving real breakthroughs. amfAR-funded research has increased our understanding of HIV and has helped lay the groundwork for major advances in the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Intensifying its research efforts, in 2014 amfAR launched the “Countdown to a Cure for HIV/AIDS,” a bold new initiative aimed at finding a broadly applicable cure for HIV by 2020. Since 1985, amfAR has invested over $ million in its mission and has awarded grants to more than 3,300 research teams worldwide. TWO x TWO is amfAR’s largest fundraiser in the United States. amfar.org
The Dallas Museum of Art, established in 1903, has an encyclopedic collection of more than 26,000 works spanning 5,000 years of history and representing all media with renowned strengths in the arts of the ancient Americas, Africa, Indonesia, and South Asia; European and American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts; and American and international contemporary art.
The Dallas Museum of Art is the anchor of the Dallas Arts District and serves as a cultural magnet for the city with diverse programming ranging from exhibitions and lectures to concerts, literary readings, and dramatic and dance presentations. The Museum serves more than one-half million visitors a year and offers more than 3,500 education and public programs annually, designed to engage people of all ages with the power and excitement of art. The Dallas Museum of Art is supported in part by the generosity of Museum members and donors and by the citizens of Dallas through the City of Dallas/Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts.
www.dallasmuseumofart.org
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