In 1975, a group of art students at Buffalo State College in Buffalo, New York, decided to turn the hallways linking their studios into a gallery. The space, aptly named Hallwalls, has since grown into one of Western New York’s most prominent alternative venues. You might recognise some of the founders: Robert Longo, Cindy Sherman, Charles Clough, Diane Bertolo, Nancy Dwyer, Larry Lundy and Michael Zwack.
To celebrate its 40th birthday this year, Hallwalls’ famous friends and founders are pulling out all the stops. (No longer confined to a hallway, the contemporary art centre is now located inside a former church building.) A benefit auction on 11 June features 40 works contributed by artists who have shown at Hallwalls in its 40-year history, including Lynda Benglis, Louise Lawler and Jim Dine.
Works on offer are estimated to sell for between $150 and $80,000. Longo donated three works, including a photograph of a tiger from 2014 (est $10,000 to $15,000) and an early photograph of Cindy Sherman taken soon after the former couple moved from Buffalo to New York City (est $1,000-$3,000). The auction’s top lot, a photograph from Cindy Sherman’s clown series, is estimated to sell for between $60,000 to $80,000.
