ICI supporters and friends gathered at West Edge for our annual Fall Benefit and Auction to celebrate an organization dedicated to curators who champion artistic practice, build essential infrastructures and institutions, and generate public engagement with art to build stronger art communities.
We were thrilled to honor Uzodinma Iweala and the The Africa Center with the 2023 Leo Award, which was designed by Sanford Biggers, produced by Urban Art Projects (UAP), and presented by Ernestine White-Mifetu.
Guests enjoyed cocktails while viewing the Auction lots, and were then treated to a bespoke seated dinner menu created by Ayo Balogun, chef of the critically-acclaimed restaurant Dept of Culture. Before the desserts were passed, Gabriela Palmieri led an exciting live auction of works by Tammy Nguyen, Elias Sime, and Amoako Boafo, and helped raise donations for ICI’s Access Fund, which provides scholarships for emerging curators to participate in professional development programs around the world.
The 2023 ICI Benefit Auction, powered by Artsy, featured 27 works by some of the most innovative artists working in contemporary practice today. We are grateful to the Benefit Auction Committee—Augusto Arbizo, Allison Glenn, Larry Ossei-Mensah, Gabriela Palmieri, and Manuela Paz—and the artists and galleries who donated artworks in support of ICI’s programs.
