In April, 187 New York photographers — among them Pari Dukovic, Jason Nocito, and Justine Kurland — donated prints to benefit Elmhurst Hospital Center, which was among the hardest hit by the city’s surge of COVID-19 cases. The benefit, called Pictures for Elmhurst, raised over a million dollars. Now it has become nearly impossible to keep up with all the online art benefits; there’s a ton of work for sale (which, in more normal times, would have been much more expensive if procured through galleries or private dealers) to support various causes, such as Justice for Black Lives, bail funds, and election campaigns. Below are ten art benefits with pieces available for purchase, from a $175 Ugo Rondinone bone-china plate benefiting the Coalition for the Homeless to a $100 Anthony Iacono risograph print (above), with proceeds going to aid and advocacy organizations.
These artworks are either limited to small editions or are one of a kind and may sell out quickly. However, most of the organizations have other pieces available (that also benefit worthy causes), so if the print you want is sold out, don’t fret.
Art for Change
Art for Change, which works with artists such as Gina Beavers and Grace Weaver, is selling four prints to benefit City Harvest. Twenty percent of the proceeds will be donated.
Hand-signed archival-pigment print (18 by 24 inches), limited edition of 30 with three artist’s proofs.
Diversify Photo
This online community of over 800 BIPOC and non-Western photographers is working to change the landscape of photography in journalism, fashion, and advertising by connecting its members with editors and producers. For the holidays, they’re teaming up with 55 of their photographers to do a sale. Half of the proceeds go directly to the artists and the other half helps to further the organization’s mission.
Printed on Kodak Endura professional photo paper (8 by 10 inches), open edition of prints.
Printed Matter
Art-book nonprofit Printed Matter is selling eight prints by artists including Jibade-Khalil Huffman and Caitlin Keogh to benefit three organizations: the Black School, Housing Justice for All, and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. One-hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated, up to $15,000.
Signed and numbered risograph print (14 by 11 inches), limited edition of 100.
Brigitte Lacombe x Absolut Art
French photographer Brigitte Lacombe has released several signed limited-edition prints to benefit the Coalition for the Homeless.
Signed and numbered print (15.7 by 19.7 inches), limited edition of 15.
Come As You Are
Organized by art adviser Daniel Oglander, the “Come As You Are” show, which includes paintings, ceramics, and works on paper by artists like Azikiwe Mohammed and Sissòn, is donating 100 percent of the sale proceeds to G.L.I.T.S., a nonprofit working to support trans sex workers and other members of the LGBTQ community.
Fort Makers
The Orchard Street studio Fort Makers is selling prints by, among others, Barry McGee, Marcel Alcalá, and Annie Bielski. Fifty percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Henry Street Settlement Food Access Initiative.
Signed screen print on Coventry Rag paper (16 by 20 inches), edition of 30.
Prints for Nature
Visual journalists Ami Vitale and Eileen Mignoni are behind the fund-raiser Prints for Nature, which is supporting Conservation International initiatives.
Archival-pigment print on Canson Infinity Edition Etching Rag paper (11 by 16 inches).
Tappan in Collaboration with Maya Erskine
Tappan, an online gallery that works with emerging artists, is selling prints and paintings curated by actress Maya Erskine to benefit SELAH, a neighborhood coalition for the homeless in Los Angeles.
Silk screen signed by artist, oil bar, and graphite on primed canvas (28.5 by 24.6 inches), original artwork.
Artist Plate Project
The Coalition for the Homeless worked with 50 artists — among them Nina Chanel Abney and Maurizio Cattelan — to create limited-edition porcelain plates. Each is $175, and 100 percent of the proceeds goes to the organization.
Fine-bone-china plate, printed signature and edition details on back of plate, limited edition of 175.
Summertime Gallery
Summertime Gallery is a nonprofit art studio and gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn showcasing artists with and without intellectual disabilities. They’re selling a limited edition print by Jean Wilson to raise money for their redesign in collaboration with Design Advocates which will allow them to switch from art studio to gallery and back again.
Screenprint on Coventry Rag Paper with Deckle Edge (16 by 20 inches), limited edition of 100.
Service Workers Coalition
Service Workers Coalition is raffling off one-of-a-kind prints from photographers like Hannah La Follette Ryan, Jordan Geiger, and Simon Forbes Keough. Tickets start at $20 and winners are announced on Instagram. All donations go towards providing service workers with a weekly grocery stipend.
*A version of this article appears in the December 7, 2020, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!
