The new year started off on a benevolent foot at 414 West Broadway on Saturday evening.
Soli Corbelle, art dealer and founder of LUSH Art Agency, hosted a charity event that featured artworks by Andy Warhol, Mr. Brainwash, Simon Cruz and other artists. Influencers, musicians, brands, and patrons gathered at the intimate space in SoHo to network and bid on paintings, while most importantly, supporting a good cause.
The funds were being raised for The New Sanctuary Coalition, a non-profit organization that helps immigrant families affected by deportations and communities resisting detention for the sake of remaining together.
The cause hits close to home to Corbelle because she herself is an immigrant in America along with her family. “If I was a child during this time, I could very much be affected similar to those who are being taken away from their families unjustly under today’s administration,” she says.
She recalls watching television one day and seeing ex MS-13 gang members being deported to Guatemala after being granted asylum in the United States. The ex-members knew that once they stepped foot in Guatemalan soil, the gang would kill them. Because of the lasting impression that had on her, she decided to work closely with The New Sanctuary Coalition.
According to pewresearch.com, about 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants make up the population in the United States, with New York, Los Angeles, and Miami containing the largest populations.
In 2019, ICE deported nearly 86,000 immigrants, a 10% drop from 2018’s fiscal year. Non-profits like The New Sanctuary Coalition work to keep deportations low and accompany people facing deportation to their immigration hearings and ICE check-ins. The funds LUSH raises with the sold artworks will help cover underlying costs.
Corbelle has extensive knowledge and experience in the art world, beginning her career at age 15 at auction houses, museums and galleries. Her collection ranges from pre- war contemporary works by Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Kaws, to contemporary ones by Loes Van Delft and Mr. Brainwash. She has built expertise in advising private collectors around the world, and served as a Director of the New York flagship of Galeries Bartoux before launching LUSH Art Agency.
While most artworks range in price, sponsorship opportunities are available and tailored to fit a variety of budgets to ensure everybody can contribute to the cause. The funds will be raised throughout the end of the exhibit.