Art auction in aid of Ukrainian refugee crisis co-organised by Limerick’s Maurice Quillinan

Art Auction Ukraine was initiated by Hambly & Hambly in partnership with Limerick-based international artist and curator, Maurice Quillinan.

More than 40 Irish and Ukrainian artists have come together with the intention of contributing something globally meaningful through art

Leading cross border Irish art gallery and culture hub, Hambly and Hambly, is holding an online global auction of world-class artworks by Irish and Ukrainian artists this weekend from April 1st – 5th, in aid of the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

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More than 40 Irish and Ukrainian artists, including several of international acclaim such as Philip Flanagan, Laurence O’Toole, Maria Kulikovska, Michelle Boyle and Eamon Colman, have come together with the intention of contributing something globally meaningful through art. All monies raised will go directly to the Unicef appeal in aid of Ukrainian refugees.

Award-winning Irish actor, author and patron of the gallery, Ciaran McMenamin, will open the auction at midday on Friday, April 1st. The online event will be preceded by a filmed discussion between Irish, Northern Irish and Ukrainian arts and culture representatives.

‘Art Auction Ukraine’ was initiated by Hambly & Hambly in partnership with Limerick-based international artist and curator, Maurice Quillinan and Northern Irish artist, Diane Henshaw. Quillinan, a 2022 RHA annual exhibition invited artist, was due to launch an exhibition of work by 10 Irish artists set to take place in Kyiv from June to September 2022. The exhibition was part of an Ireland-Ukraine cultural project being organised with the assistance of Ireland’s first resident Ambassador to Ukraine, Therese Healy, and Ukrainian Mariia Zaiets. Internationally renowned Ukrainian artist Maria Kulikovska, who had been in discussion with the Irish artists about the Kyiv project, has also donated work to the fundraising auction. She recently fled Ukraine with her 6-month old baby. However her husband, Uleg Vinnichenko, with whom she created GARAGE33 – a gallery-shelter from conflict for contemporary art(ists) in Kyiv, remains in Ukraine and is unable to leave.

‘Art Auction Ukraine’ co-curator Diane Henshaw and donating artist, Eamon Colman were both due to present work as part of the planned Kyiv exhibition. The donating artists all say they feel strongly about the need to support the Ukrainian people through art at this time of crisis following the invasion of their country.

More than 40 high-end artworks have been donated to the auction with sale prices starting at considerably lower rates (20%) than their original value. This presents an exciting opportunity to purchase original world-class Irish and Ukrainian artworks at unusual prices while supporting a humanitarian cause.

Irish artist Philip Flanagan has donated an original abstract piece, Sand Dune, Lunniagh, Donegal to the appeal entirely free, while friend and patron of the gallery, Lord Belmore, John Lowry-Corry, has similarly donated a unique collection of books ‘CatalogueRaisonné of Oil Paintings: William Scott’ to the sale. Known for still-life and abstract painting, William Scott CBE RA has huge significance in Irish art history and is the most internationally celebrated of 20th-century Ulster painters. His early life was the subject of the film Every Picture. Quillinan himself has donated an oil painting, ’Burren Notebook.’ Lunniagh, Donegal to the appeal entirely free, while friend and patron of the gallery, Lord Belmore, John Lowry-Corry, has similarly donated a unique collection of books ‘Catalogue Raisonné of Oil Paintings: William Scott’ to the sale. Known for still-life and abstract painting, William Scott CBE RA has huge significance in Irish art history and is the most internationally celebrated of 20th-century Ulster painters. His early life was the subject of the film Every Picture. Quillinan himself has donated an oil painting, ’Burren Notebook.’

Hambly & Hambly are curating and hosting the auction entirely free of charge and a minimum of 50% of the sale price of each artwork will be donated directly to the Unicef Ukrainian refugee appeal.

‘Art Auction Ukraine’ goes live on Friday, April 1st at 12:00 with bidding open until 24:00 on April 5th.

To find out more about Hambly & Hambly’s Art Auction Ukraine go HERE

For more art stories go HERE