Celebrated art critic and historian John Richardson and artist Jenny Saville will be honored by the New York Academy of Art at the 20th annual Take Home a Nude® auction and dinner at Sotheby’s on October 17th. The gala evening will be chaired by Chanel CEO Maureen Chiquet, Larry Gagosian, and Tobias Meyer, Sotheby’s Worldwide Head of Contemporary Art. In addition to the hosts and honorees, expected guests will include Andre Balazs, Bob Colacello, Jane Holzer, Blake Lively, Carol & Earle Mack, Libby & David Mugrabi, Ronald Perelman, Samantha & Aby Rosen, Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber, Arden Wohl, and many others.

Richardson’s numerous books and essays have positioned him as the pre-eminent chronicler of the lives and work of twentieth century artists. He has completed three of the planned four volumes of A Life of Picasso, and has curated numerous Picasso shows for Gagosian Gallery. In addition to his friendships with artists Picasso and Lucien Freud, Richardson enjoyed a close association with Andy Warhol, one of the co-founders of the Academy. Richardson is a longtime supporter of Warhol’s aims that the school provide formal classical art training for young artists beyond the theoretical. Take Home a Nude® is the biggest source for scholarship funds to the school.

Saville first became widely known in the US with her inclusion in Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection, and has since become one of the most prominent figurative artists working today. She is lauded for her large canvases and sensuous brushwork. She has held the position of Senior Critic at the Academy for almost a decade, and has played an influential role in the careers of numerous graduates. Her work will be seen in a one person show at Gagosian Gallery New York this fall. According to Academy President David Kratz, “We are thrilled to be able to pay tribute to two of the most influential figures in contemporary art on the same night. Both John and Jenny have played invaluable roles and inspiration in the lives and careers of countless artists”.

Take Home a Nude® will feature cocktails, dinner, and a live and silent auction of an array of well over 100 artworks (not all nudes). The evening will be sponsored by Chanel, Sotheby’s, Baccarat, XL Insurance, and Cadogan Tate. Individual tickets are available from $175 to $1,000 by calling 212.842.5971 or emailing events@nyaa.edu.

Located in Tribeca and founded in 1982, the New York Academy of Art is a not-for-profit graduate school that combines intensive technical training with active critical discourse. In the belief that rigorously trained artists are best able to realize their artistic vision, Academy students learn to master the traditional methods and techniques and are encouraged to use these skills to make vital contemporary art.

www.nyaa.edu