TAKE HOME A NUDE 2011

Some nudes are nuder than others. The New York Academy of Art on Franklin Street in Tribeca is holding its annual Take Home a Nude art auction and party at Sotheby's New York on Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. The special honorees of the high-profile art event, which features around 170 paintings, sculptures drawings and photographs of the nude donated by artists young and old, are British painter Jenny Saville and Picasso biographer John Richardson. Chairing the evening are Maureen & Antoine Chiquet, Larry Gagosian and Tobias Meyer. A fellowship table at the fund-raiser goes for $50,000.

Support for the school, which specializes in teaching traditional techniques, has become more widespread among the hip New York-based art world. For example, the participation in the live auction at this year's benefit by Conceptual Art pioneer Joseph Kosuth, who is donating one of his works -- a neon reading "Not for Imagining" -- to the academy's scholarship fund due to his friendship with school co-founder Andy Warhol. Kosuth is scheduled to lecture at the academy as well, as part of a program that has also included artists Carroll Dunham and David Salle.

Other artists included in the live auction are John Alexander, Patrick Demarchelier, Vincent Desiderio, Todd Eberle, Nan Goldin, George Sugarman, Enoc Perez, Stephen Hannock and Jeff Koons.

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