Rob Giardinelli
By Rob Giardinelli Photography Courtesy of Aspen Art Week
The epicenter of the art world will head to Aspen from July 30th through August 3rd for Aspen Art Week. Throughout the five-day affair, tens of thousands will experience beautiful art against the stunning backdrop of the region’s majestic mountains.
Many Texans spend the summer trading the Texas heat for the cooler weather Aspen is known for during these months. Many of those who spend time in Aspen also patron Texas’ most notable art events and auctions including Two X Two for AIDS and Art, Dallas Museum of Art’s Art Ball, The Contemporary Austin Art Dinner, Museum of Fine Arts Houston Grand Gala Ball, and the Blanton Museum of Art’s 60th Anniversary Gala, just to name a few.
This year’s event is made more special as 2024 will celebrate two milestones. The first is the 45th anniversary of Aspen Art Museum. The second is the 10th anniversary of the museum’s Shigeru-Ban-designed building, which has helped make Aspen a top destination for art lovers worldwide.
Texans can show their love for art and generous, philanthropic spirit and support the Aspen Art scene by taking part in the dazzling array of world-class art experiences for serious, discerning art patrons during Aspen Art Week. Below are several things to have on your radar to be a part of during the events which draws top art enthusiasts and collectors from around the world:
Aspen Art Week kicks off July 30th with an evening welcome party presented by Bottega Veneta. Kicking off Aspen Art Week, the event will host several hundred patrons, including members of the Aspen Art Museum and attendees of the 2024 Aspen ArtCrush Auction and Gala for a night of mingling where old friends will connect and new friendships will form. The night will also feature music courtesy of DJ Cardamami.
Then, July 31st will feature accomplished musician and Aspen Award for Art Recipient Jason Moran and his longtime collaborator and partner, Alicia Hall Moran. The duo will headline a concert on the museum’s rooftop. Moran and Hall Moran have a history of supporting Texas-based arts organizations including a recent musical performance at the DACAMERA gala in Houston.
The following night, August 1st, Moran will return to the rooftop of the Aspen Art Museum for a second concert. The night will be a unique collaboration between Moran, Lizzie Fitch, Ashland Mines, and students of the Aspen Music School. Done in collaboration with Aspen One, the group will perform AUDIENCE PLANT 2024, which transforms music made with digital software into live orchestrations. The result is an engaging concert that weaves in unexpected textures and sounds into an acoustic tapestry with the end result being unique, experimental musical compositions.
On the morning of August 2nd, guests will gather on the beautiful rooftop of the Aspen Art Museum for a sound bath given by multidisciplinary artist Himali Singh Soin and composer David Tappesser. The two artists will create a unique artistic experience that will blend poetry and gong percussion to transport attendees into new realms.
Aspen Art Week culminates with the fabulous ArtCrush Auction and Gala on the night of August 2nd. The event will feature over 400 of the world’s top art patrons as they dine, dance, and most importantly, bid on amazing art with proceeds benefiting the Aspen Art Museum. A preview of the art is available at the ArtCrush 2024 online auction and ArtCrush 2024 live auction.
The 2024 Aspen ArtCrush online auction features 58 works ranging from $4,000 to $180,000 with many pieces falling in the $10,000-$30,000 range. The auction includes internationally acclaimed artists including Alicja Kwade, Jonathan Lyndon Chase, Rebecca Ackroyd, and many others.
Those attending the 2024 Aspen ArtCrush Auction and Gala in person will have access to the impressive lot of 12 auction items ranging from $40,000-$400,000, with many works in the $100,000-$200,000 range. The live auction will feature works from highly coveted artists including Jacqueline Humphries, Emmi Whitehorse, Kennedy Yanko, and more.
Visit the Aspen Art Week website to learn more about how you can be a part of this magical week of artistic experiences. See you there.
