Houston’s Biggest Photo Party Brings a High-Stakes Auction

What: Houston Center for Photography 37th Annual Fine Print Auction

Where: The Briar Club

PC Moment: This year’s Fine Print Auction benefitting HCP raked in more than $200,000 for the storied Houston photo nonprofit. The night honored HCP founder Peter Brown, whose photography and writing – along with having established the city’s premier institution for aspiring photographers – has bolstered the Texas photo community for decades.

Top lots of the auction included an Adam Fuss print, The Last Supper (2014), taken home by former HCP director Bevin Bering Dubrowski. Other collectible talents included Molly Block, Keith Carter, Jan Rattia, Joe Aker, Libbie Masterson, Bryan Schutmaat, Todd Webb, Steve Fitch, Arthur Meyerson, honoree Peter Brown, Renate Aller, Richard Misrach, Robert Adams, and Denise Prince.

Who: Chairs Shelley Calton and Stuart Nelson (he, HCP board prez); HCP director Ashlyn Davis; Kerry Inman and Denby Auble, who were the high bidders on works by Shane Lavalette and Mary Ellen Bartley; Mercedes Paul, whose mother Suzanne Paul was featured in the silent auction; FotoFest director Steven Evans; esteemed curator Anne Tucker with architect Robert Morris; gallerists Catherine Couturier, Cindy Lisica, and Betty Moody with pal curator Clint Willour; Sarah Krueger, of Phillips auction house, in from New York, who capably conducted the live auction; the Rothko Chapel’s Thuy Tran; Linda Shearer; Paddle8’s Sarah Bencic; Rainey Knudson of Glasstire; Melissa Caspary of Sunflower Press; Susana Monteverde; and a brigade of collectors including Kath Blanco, Victoria Lightman, and Krista Dumas.

Additional reporting by Catherine D. Anspon.