WPA Auction Gala 2016

Guests include more than 700 artists, collectors, arts professionals, and business leaders. The event supports WPA's mission to promote contemporary art and artists in the greater DC metropolitan region. The gala includes an open bar, delicious dinner, silent auction which will feature more than 146 artworks from 116 emerging and established artists from around the region, desserts, and a DJ-fueled dance party. It is, by many accounts, the most fun art gala in the DC metro area. New this year, WPA will introduce bidding via Paddle8 and guests can bid on artworks from their mobile devices. Proceeds from the sale of art are split equally between the participating artists and WPA, and go to support WPA's free programming all year round. 

Dowload Press Release

WPA AUCTION WEEK will kick off with an opening reception on Thursday, March 31, from 7 - 9 pm.  Guests will be treated to a preview of the Auction Gala exhibition, The selections have been made by 7 top museum curators, notable independent curators, and the WPA Board of Directors. Over the next week, guests can return for artist- and curator-led tours, talks, and other activities.

All the events will take place in downtown Washington, DC, at 1333 H St NW, in a two-story atrium repurposed for the event and donated by MRP Realty and the Center for American Progress. The venue is conveniently located just one block from the McPherson Square Metro station. Free parking is available in the building garage on the evening of the gala. 

Preview the WPA Auction Exhibition artworks HERE

PURCHASING TICKETS

Individual Tickets to the auction gala start at $325 and can be purchased by visiting the WPA website or contacting Nathalie von Veh at nvonveh@wpadc.org or 202-234-7103 x101. Corporate sponsorships are also available. In the next few weeks, WPA is now also offer a $150 party ticket with admission at 8:30 pm. The other events during WPA AUCTION WEEK are free. 

Our Supporters

This year's gala event is co-chaired by Jessica Stafford Davis, Ayanna Dunn, Frederick P. Ognibene, MD, and Judy J. Sherman. Auction Committee members include Brittany Bansak, Martha Blalock, Noel Carson, Martin Ditto, Eric Hilton, Dale Mott, Jessica Naresh, Kevin Roberts, Henrique Siblesz, Vikki Tobak, André Wells, and Blair Wunderlich.

WPA is grateful to the growing list of generous supporters of 2016 WPA Auction Gala: 

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About WPA

Washington Project for the Arts is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve as a catalyst for contemporary art. WPA supports artists at all stages of their career, and promotes contemporary art by presenting exhibitions, issues, and ideas that stimulate public dialogue on art and culture. Since its founding in 1975, WPA has showcased the works of thousands of artists and has reached hundreds of thousands of visitors and viewers with its programs and projects.

Washington Project For the Arts Inc. is supported by the City Fund, which works to make the District of Columbia a more healthy, stable, and vibrant place to live for all its residents. The City Fund is administered by The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region.

Funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Major support for WPA comes from its members, Board of Directors, invaluable volunteers, and by generous contributions from numerous individuals, The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Abramson Family Foundation, Anonymous, Arlington Cultural Affairs, Susan & Dixon Butler, Capitol Skyline Hotel, The Chesapeake Framing Company, Clark Construction, DC Office of Planning, DCRE Residential, Delucchi Plus, Ditto Residential, Dr. Joan M. Fallon Family Foundation, Forest City Washington, Nadine Gabai-Botero & Luis Botero, Raymond Garcia, Graham Holdings, Hickok Cole Architects, Giselle & Ben Huberman, The JBG Companies, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Yvette Kraft, La Palina Cigars, Meredith Margolis & Gary Goodweather, Mark G. Anderson Consultants, Inc., Marshfield Associates, Mary Snider State Farm Insurance Agency, Sophia McCrocklin & Bill Isaacson, Microsoft, NextGen LED, NoMa Business Improvement District, Frederick P. Ognibene, M.D., Bill & Alison Paley, Peacock Cafe, ripe, Judy & Andrew J. Sherman, Shinola, Shelley Singer & Michael Gross, Amanda & Earl W. Stafford, Kim & Timothy Ward, William S. Paley Foundation, and Winmar Construction.