With the U.S. presidential election just a month away, a bevy of boldface art-world names is mobilizing in support of Vice President Kamala Harris. This October, the Artists For Harris Advisory Committee is hosting a sale of artworks to support the Harris Victory Fund.
Vice President Harris has her own ties to the art world as a former board member of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Now, the artistic community is giving back with a star-studded collection of works by 167 artists, including Simone Leigh, George Condo, Jenny Holzer, Christopher Wool, Carrie Mae Weems, and Ed Ruscha. Famed actor Leonardo DiCaprio also pitched in, donating a Josh Smith from his personal collection.
“Though traditional and atypical channels we put out a wide call for art," says Dre Guttag, Co-Chair of Artists for Kamala. "The hope was that we’d end up with a diverse range of artists and artwork that represent the Democratic Party and many of the values we hold so dear—like our commitment to reproductive freedoms, the ongoing fight for equality, and our belief that human rights are meant to be expanded, not rolled back. Looking at the outcome, we are thrilled to see that the art world really understood the assignment!”
Among the works on offer are 10 oversize prints by Judy Chicago—who, like Harris, is a longtime advocate for abortion rights—based on the artist's recent Dior collaboration. George Clinton, the legendary funk musician and visual artist, also donated a recent painting. Artists’ workshop Gemini G.E.L., known for its 1972 Andy Warhol print for the George McGovern campaign, is donating works from its archives, continuing its longstanding partnership with the Democratic National Committee. (One imagines they are hoping for a better outcome than McGovern's race.)
Some are approaching the sale—and the campaign—as a family affair. Painter Andrea Belag plans to canvas swing states with her nieces and nephews. Wendy Al, the wife of the late artist Billy Al Bengston, and Happy Ward, the wife of the late artist Ken Price, are donating from their personal collections in honor of their spouses' legacies.
"We share Jamaican heritage, love for the diverse fabric that represents the best of this country, and a drive to push forward meaningful change," the artist Simone Leigh, who represented the United States at the 2022 Venice Biennale, said in a statement. "I’m absolutely delighted to endorse Kamala Harris for President.”
Forty-two of the lots will be sold through Artsy beginning today, with the rest available on the Artists For Kamala site. The sale runs from Oct. 1 through Oct. 8.
