On Saturday night at Sotheby’s in New York, a standing-room only crowd helped raise more than $26 million for The Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.
The star-studded audience gathered for The (RED) Auction celebrating design and innovation, which had been curated by Sir Jonathan Ive and Marc Newson in collaboration with musician and activist Bono. The sale exceeded all expectations totaling more than $13 million, which was matched by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The high-energy salesroom saw a remarkable three lots bring more than $1.5 million, including the two items designed in their entirety by Jony and Marc – a unique Leica Digital Rangefinder Camera, which sold for $1.8 million and a unique aluminum desk produced by Neal Feay Studio, which brought $1.7 million.
Throughout the evening, the crowd of more than 1,000 guests, including The Edge, Chelsea Clinton, Helena Christensen, Meg Ryan, Jenna and Barbara Bush, Hayden Panettiere, Larry Gagosian, Dieter Rams, Gayle King, and Mario Batali, was treated to a number of spectacular surprises: before auctioneer Oliver Barker opened bidding on lot 12, the Steinway & Sons unique
“Red Pops for (RED)” Parlor Grand Piano, Coldplay's Chris Martin took to the stage to sing ‘Perfect Day’ and ‘Beautiful Day’ with Bono. The performance inspired more than a dozen bidders to compete for the piano, which was finally won by philanthropist Stewart Rahr for $1.9 million.
Later in the evening, lot 23, the Azzedine Alaïa pink couture long ruffle dress, was revealed in the salesroom worn by supermodel Christy Turlington before it sold to applause for $149,000. The final surprise of the evening came at the end of the auction when the Gretsch Electromatic “(RED) Zero Generation” Bono “Signature” Guitar was added to the auction and sold for $250,000.
After the final fall of the hammer, guests made their way to Sotheby’s spectacular 10th floor galleries to be entertained at the after party by Nile Rodgers and Chic, as well as Angelique Kidjo.
Bono said, “Jony and Marc are the Beatles and Stones of the design world. The collection they put together should’ve been in a museum but instead they sold it off to buy medicines for those who can’t afford them but whose lives depend on them. The money raised is a lifeline, literally, for so many people, but nights like this also serve as a reminder of the historical opportunity we have to end AIDS. We are at a tipping point in the history of this tiny little virus that has wreaked so much havoc. We have to make sure the Global Fund has the money it needs or we could fail.”
Sir Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President of Design at Apple, said, “It’s not every day that you get to curate a collection with your best friend and sell it off to help a lot of people. It’s been thrilling to contribute to the fight against AIDS in this way – by simply immersing ourselves in what we love: good design.”
“The best and most successful design demonstrates humanity and a sense of care for others,” said Marc Newson. “What could be more fitting than to have the opportunity to use the best of design to help continue the fight against AIDS. Thank you Bono, thank you (RED). It’s been an honor and a thrill.”
Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria said, “Because the US and UK governments have challenge grants, you can add 43% to the total raised tonight, bringing it to $37.46 million. I am very grateful to all the people involved in this auction for the generosity, creativity and passion that created not only amazing objects but contributed to the future of millions of people that have been affected by HIV/AIDS.”
Oliver Barker, Deputy Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe and tonight’s auctioneer, said, “This is the second time that we have had a fruitful collaboration with (RED) and we are absolutely thrilled with the results of tonight’s sale.”
(RED) has raised more than $215 million for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS to support HIV/AIDS grants in Ghana, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania. Global Fund grants that (RED) supports have impacted more than 14 million people with prevention, treatment, counseling, HIV testing and care services.
