Arts

Rothko Chapel’s 50th Anniversary Brings Arty Wonders — and a London Dream

What to Collect Now from the Top 20 Lots, Before the Bidding Closes

BY Catherine D. Anspon // 11.05.21

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Rothko Chapel Plaza with Barnett Newman’s "Broken Obelisk," dedicated 1971 (Photo by Paul Hester)

Collectors will be vying for Rothko Chapel Benefit Auction Lot 8: Trenton Doyle Hancock's "The Ossified Theosophied," 2005.

Lot 6 in the Rothko Chapel Benefit Auction has attracted interest: Sol LeWit's "Windows, 1980. It features 72 chromogenic photographic prints, so it's like getting six dozen works in one.

Venice Biennale-exhibited James Drake's charcoal on paper, "City of Tells, La Malinche," 2004, is Lot 19 in the Rothko Chapel Benefit Auction. Find the auction on Artsy; bidding closes Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 9 pm CDT, and is open to the public.

A king of collage, Houston artist Robert Hodge's "Unrequited," 2021, Rothko Chapel Benefit Auction Lot 13

Lot 17 is so in keeping with the aesthetics of the Rothko Chapel: David McGee's "Meditation Yellow," 2020. McGee's work is in the permanent collection of The Menil Collection, whose founders, Dominique and John de Menil, also founded the Rothko Chapel.

Israeli artist Gilad Efrat's "Untitled," 2015, Lot 12 in the Rothko Chapel Benefit Auction on Artsy.

Argentine-born, Houston-based Gustavo Díaz's De la Serie: “El acumulador de crepúsculos,” 2019, Lot 20 in the Rothko Chapel Benefit Auction

Rothko Chapel Benefit Auction Lot 18: Susie Rosmarin's "Untitled (SR 444)," 2013. If the last name is familiar it's because her late brother, Mickey Rosmarin, founded Tootsies, where the artist once worked, an experience that influenced her geometrically refined canvases.

A novel take on sports photography: Pelle Cass' "Dartmouth Baseball," 2021, Rothko Chapel Benefit Auction Lot 14.

Italian talent Andrea Bianconi's ink on canvas, "Prisoner of Love," 2019, Lot 11 in the Rothko Chapel Benefit Auction

The Rothko Chapel, Houston, a sanctuary for art, also embodies a call to activism. (Photo by Paul Hester)

The Fabergé London trip with bespoke bijoux makes for a raffle fit for a 50th fête.

A Fabergé 2.01-carat red ruby bespoke ring awaits the Rothko Chapel Gala's lucky raffle winner.

Rothko Chapel Plaza with Barnett Newman’s "Broken Obelisk," dedicated 1971 (Photo by Paul Hester)

In keeping with its mission as a destination for one of the 20th century’s most compelling suites of painting, the Rothko Chapel’s 50th Anniversary Gala — titled Illumination and set for this Saturday, November 6 — will offer an art auction of rare importance, via Artsy.

Note: Collectors do not need to attend the gala to register and bid on the auction.

Curated by doyenne Barbara Davis of Art Basel Miami Beach-exhibited Barbara Davis Gallery, the auction features 20 assiduously chosen lots as well as Lot 21, the chance to experience the exquisitely restored Rothko Chapel in solitude or with a private tour. (More on that auction package in a moment.)

The artworks featured include artists who are part of art history — Ed Ruscha, Sol LeWitt, Larry Bell — as well as contemporary international and national talents such as Andrea Bianconi, Gilad Efrat and Danny Rolph, alongside a slew of notables who are based in Texas or who have called Texas home, including Venice Biennale-exhibited James Drake, two-time Whitney Biennial participant Trenton Doyle Hancock, Menil-collected David McGee, CAMH-exhibited Robert Hodge and Susie Rosmarin and Glassell School director Joe Havel (represented by one of his collectible shirt-label works).

Besides the artists who stepped up to generously donate their creations, their participating dealers played a magnificent part including the iconic Pace Gallery, as well as Houston’s finest — Moody Gallery, Texas Gallery, Inman Gallery, Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino, David Shelton Gallery, Josh Pazda Hiram Butler, Foto Relevance and Barbara Davis Gallery.

Bidders can top off their collecting action by an unforgettable art experience, vying for Rothko Chapel Gala Artsy Lot 21: a private Rothko Chapel tour, offered — by your choice — either in solitude or led by Chapel executive director David Leslie, paired with dinner for two at Montrose’s clubby Tonight & Tomorrow restaurant within the La Colombe d’Or hotel, and a two-night stay at The Post Oak Hotel.

Then after you’ve placed your bid on the esteemed art lots, check out the coveted auction packages and goodies selected by auction chairs Joyce Echols and Steve Wyatt, and Christina and Troy Porter.

London Calling

A lavish London trip capped by a Fabergé experience and a bespoke ruby ring will go to the fortunate raffle winner.

And don’t forget to sign up for the posh Fabergé/London raffle. A $100 ticket gets you a chance for this unique trip paired with a beautiful bijoux, both bespoke.

The Rothko Chapel describes the over-the-top trip: “Once arriving in London, the winner will be whisked off to Fabergé and treated to a series of private events, where they will collaborate directly with jewelry masters on a one-of-kind piece made just for them.

“The experience comes as part of a three-day trip to London, accommodations included, where you will participate in every part of the creative journey to witness the creation of a stunning 2.01-carat red ruby bespoke ring.”

Artwork registration and bidding here. Note: Auction open to all; gala attendance is not required. Auction closes this Saturday, November 6 at 9 pm CDT.

To bid on special luxury offerings and experiences, click here.

Acquire raffle tickets here.