Bidding gets underway March 3 at the 50th Annual YAM Art Auction.
The Yellowstone Art Museum, YAM, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the longest running and most diverse of the region’s art auctions. This event has opened the door between artists and collectors and has helped make Billings an art-rich environment.
Celebrate this milestone at both the exhibition opening on Thursday, Jan. 25, and the main event on Saturday, March 3. The event will be held at the Yellowstone Art Museum, located at 401 North 27th St., Billings. The annual art auction is the YAM’s most significant fundraising event, generating proceeds in support of exhibitions and educational programming for the entire year.
The opening event at the YAM offers the first chance to view this year’s Art Auction 50 selections by 131 artists from across the nation, including 110 Montana artists. The reception includes live music and hors d’oeuvres and free admission for members. The exhibition remains open for viewing and silent auction bidding until the event on March 3.
In honor of the 50th Art Auction, the YAM will exhibit and auction a rare print by Pablo Picasso, titled Portrait d’Homme à la Fraise, Variation d’après El Greco, 1962. This rare opportunity to view and bid on a work by Picasso was made possible through the generosity of Galerie Michael.
The exhibition culminates in the annual Art Auction, which consists of a silent auction, a live auction, a “Quick Draw,” cocktails, and gourmet hors d’oeuvres, all within the spacious galleries. The auction begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 3, and features a dinner and dessert buffet catered by Thomas Nelson Catering. The Live Auction bidding begins at 7 p.m. and includes a raffle drawing for exquisite jewelry donated by Montague’s Jewelers.
Advance tickets to the Art Auction go on sale Jan. 25 online (www.artmuseum.org) and at the museum. General admission tickets are $95 per person and $105 at the door. Raffle tickets may be purchased separately and the ticket holder need not be present to win. Call 406-256-6804 for details.