Leonardo DiCaprio's charity auction sees 13 artist records broken

"The fact is that this is the 11th hour," Leonardo DiCaprio announced from the rostrum yesterday evening (May 14), before The 11th Hour - the star's long awaited charity art auction - commenced at Christie's New York, the Gallerist magazine reports.

"That's why this is called the 11th Hour auction."

Leonardo DiCaprio auction
DiCaprio’s opening address focussed on the environmental issues underpinning the sale

DiCaprio, who personally solicited the 33 contemporary art works which sold for $33.3m last night, insisted that the gathered dealers and celebrities "bid as if the fate of the planet depends on us", the New York publication states, such was the environmental focus of the sale, with proceeds set to benefit conservation charity the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.  

The auction was attended by a raft of notables. Fellow actors Tobey Maguire, Mark Ruffalo, Bradley Cooper and Selma Hayek were joined by pharmaceutical billionaire, high profile art investor and friend of LL Cool J, Stewart Rahr, (who reportedly likes to be addressed as Stewie Rah Rah) for the auction, which saw 13 artist records broken.

Leomardo dicaprio auction
An untitled canvas by Mark Grotjahn led the sale, bringing a 160% increase on its top estimate

Asked to explain why DiCaprio, who wished his Twitter followers a Happy Earthday on April 22, felt so passionate about the environment, and in particular tigers, Ruffalo told the Gallerist: "Iunno. He just loves the tigers and he's made it a point to save them."

An untitled 2012 canvas by modernist American painter Mark Grotjahn led the auction, bringing $6.5m - a 160% increase on the piece's $2.5m top estimate and a new auction record for the artist.

The work was bought by American art dealer and gallery owner Larry Gagosian after a drawn out battle with Naomi Cambell's ex, the Russian billionaire Vladimir Doronin.

Leonardo DiCaprio auction
The Tiger by Beijing-based Zeng Fanzhi made $5m

The Tiger, a striking 2011 oil on canvas featuring a fierce looking wild tiger by Beijing-based Zeng Fanzhi also put in a strong performance, selling with a 101.6% increase on its $2.5m high valuation, for $5m.

Artists Carol Bove, Dan Colen, Joe Bradley, Mark Grotjahn, Sergej Jensen, Robert Longo, Bharti Kher, Adam McEwen, Raymond Pettibon, Elizabeth Peyton, Rob Pruitt, Sterling Ruby and Mark Ryden all saw the value of their work increase as new auction records were achieved for their canvases.

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