CORE and TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary are launching "Get Up Stand Up: Artists for Jamaica and Los Angeles," a high-profile benefit auction scheduled for February 26 during L.A. Art Week. The event features over 20 works by major contemporary artists including Henry Taylor, Hank Willis Thomas, and Nari Ward, with a live sale led by auctioneer Simon de Pury. Proceeds will fund long-term recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and recent wildfires in Los Angeles, as well as CORE’s ongoing emergency response work.
This initiative highlights the art world's increasing mobilization around climate justice and disaster relief, specifically focusing on the disproportionate impact of environmental crises on Caribbean nations. By aligning Caribbean-rooted artists with global collectors during a major art week, the auction leverages market visibility to address the shared vulnerabilities of geographically distant regions. The involvement of major galleries like Hauser & Wirth and Thaddaeus Ropac underscores the institutional support for using the secondary market as a vehicle for direct humanitarian aid.