The Contemporary

The Contemporary Dayton’s  27^th Annual Art Auction, to be held onFriday, June 25, 2021 will be the first ticketed event to take place in the newly restored Rotunda in the historic Dayton Arcade. Guests will be greeted with a complimentary drink, have a designated seating area with a plate of nibbles for the table provided by Bernstein’s Catering, and two cash bars will be available. WDPR’s Shaun Yu will serve as the master of ceremonies, and auctioneer Doug Sorrell will host the always exciting

live auction. Dessert will be served in the The Co’s new galleries, which will also host a dance reception.

featuring the work of Dayton-area and nationally-known artists, delicious food and drink, music and friends, as well as MC Shaun Yu of WDPR and Auctioneer Doug Sorrell. The action-packed evening will be limited to 125 guests who may designate their seating preference to groups of 6, 4, 2, or individually, to ensure each ticket-buyer’s preference for safety and comfort.

General Admission Tickets for the LIVE Event are $75 for members and $90 for non-members for the event which will begin with a receptions at 6:30pm, program & auctions starts at 7:30pm.  CLICK HERE to get tickets.

The artists whose work will be up for bid are some of Dayton’s most notable including Zachary Armstrong, Willis “Bing” Davis, Katherine Kadish, Evelyn Mahrt, Mychaelyn Michalec, Richard Malogorski, and Bruce Soifer. Additionally, The Co’s new curator, Michael Goodson, has added an impressive list of work from nationally-renowned artists including Ann Hamilton, Ohio resident and celebrated “sensory” and fabric installation artist; Donald Moffett, New York AIDS-era activist, designer, and celebrated painter; Carrie Moyer, New York artist and Whitney Biennial Alum, best known for her vividly-colored and textured abstract paintings; American photojournalist/photo-anthropologist, Bill Owens, whose 1973 book Suburbia is considered one of the seminal photobooks of the 20^st century and features, in newer editions, a forward essay by filmmaker Sofia Coppola; Detroit-based artist Beverly Fishman who creates powerful abstract paintings that address technology and the pharmaceutical industry; and Brooklyn painter, Fred Tomaselli, who is represented by one of his infamous silkscreens in which he colorfully reimagines the events of Hurricane Katrina on the front page of The New York Times. Each of these works will be accompanied by a monographic book signed by each artist.

Simultaneously, The Co will present an Online Auction beginning on June 23 through June 27, 2021 with over 60 works of art that represent a curated selection of the most accomplished and compelling artists in the area, as well as a selection of virtual and in-person art encounters. Virtual art encounter packages include a Guided Watercolor Painting Lesson; Wine Tasting with Argentinian and Tuscan Selections; a Q&A with the elite of Broadway’s theatrical professionals; a Coaching-Vocal-Choreography Session; and a Grandmaster Chess Lesson. In-person packages include Glassblowing with Jim DeLange; a Custom Mural by Mural Machine; and Exclusive Columbus and Cincinnati Art Tour with The Co’s Curator. Viewing and bidding on artwork and experiences is available at no cost, but you must register to bid.

Additionally, The Co will offer a Grand Prize Raffle for the chance to win the opportunity to host the first Cocktail Party in The Co’s New Galleries for up to 25 guests and includes select wines, craft beers, light bites, and music. Grand Prize Raffle Tickets are available now at The Co’s downtown location or at thecontemporarydayton.org and are $25 each or 5 for $100.