At ArtWalk, Artists and Art Lovers Fête to Combat Homelessness

“Everybody deserves a home. Those five words are why we’re here tonight,” was David Giffen, Coalition for the Homeless’ Executive Director, opening line that certainly struck a chord amongst attendees of ArtWalk NY 2024. On Monday, October 22, artists, art professionals, and others came together raising $700,000 for the coalition’s programming to support the homeless and populations at-risk in New York.

According to the Coalition for the Homeless, the primary reason people in NYC become homeless is the lack of affordable housing triggered by causes like eviction, doubled-up or severely overcrowded housing, domestic violence, job loss, and hazardous housing conditions. Currently, nearly 350,000 people are homeless in NYC. Let that sink in. Being homeless means lacking a regular nighttime residence, including those who live within the shelter system—that is adults, children, and families sleeping on the streets, doorways, or parks (places not meant for habitation), those living with a succession of friends or acquaintances or emergency shelters. The coalition has various programs to combat homelessness and better the lives for those who are at risk.

Held at Chelsea Factory, ArtWalk brings people together around this important cause that is so visible to all New Yorkers. Annika Connor and Justin Sterling were among the 68 artists who donated work to the silent and live auction. “My work has sold every year,” Connor said excitedly. She has participated in the event for several years. Fittingly she donated a painting depicting a single lit candle, perhaps representing hope. During the 2022-2023 school year 119,320 NYC schoolchildren experienced homelessness representing more than 11% of all NYC public schoolkids. a donation of $1500 will cover the cost for the coalition to send a youth to summer camp.

Works by Katherine Bernhardt, Noah Becker, and Shephard Fairey were also on offer—displayed on temporary walls installed in the sprawling Chelsea Factory. A historic building from 1914, previously home of NYC’s first taxis, Annie Leibovitz’s studio, and Cedar Lake Dance Company. The event, co-chaired by Cultured’s Sarah G Harrelson, drew hard-hitting players in the art world including curator Anwari Musa, Pace’s Senior Director and Global Head of Online Sales Christiana Ine-Kimba Boyle, and long-time coalition supporters Vincent and Shelley Fremont. Vincent used to run Andy Warhol’s studio and co-founded his foundation. They were honored for their contributions to the coalition in 2017.

Second to catching up with friends over cocktails. The most exciting part of the evening was the live auction where Aileen Agopian (also an honoree for her 14 years of support) charmingly coaxed out bids from the audience. A gorgeous beach scene painting of a female figure in between two children looking toward the waterfront at sunset by Katherine Bradford donated with her gallery CANADA fetched over $70.000. Other works in the spirited auction included painting of a fawn by Ann Craven and her gallery Karma, a print by Ed Ruscha, and an oil and acrylic on canvas by Kenny Scharf.

The coalition works closely with both artists, galleries, and collectors to build a catalog of works for sale. It was great to see that many put their insecurities about the art market aside to acquire art to support the coalition’s important work.

Donate to The Coalition for the Homeless here.

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More Photos From the Event

Pace’s Senior Director and Global Head of Online Sales Christiana Ine-Kimba Boyle. Photographed by Mike Vitelli/BFA.com.