Free Arts NYC and Marc Jacobs Honored Artist Futura 2000

On Wednesday evening, Free Arts NYC celebrated the joyous return of their 23rd annual art auction by honoring artist Futura 2000. In Chelsea, a crowd of art enthusiasts flocked to support the organization’s mission to empower marginalized youth through art. The space was wrapped with the works of various artists, including Eddie Martinez, Ana Benaroya, Kaws, and honoree Futura (whose 2022 MOTHRA painting was later sold to Marc Jacobs). “Futura is very generous, and I think his art is very generous, and I believe when all things are aligned, it’s a wonderful feeling,” Jacobs told Vogue.

Futura, now 66, got his start in the early ’70s as a curious youngster who found a voice through graffiti and painting. His friends included the likes of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, and over the course of his career, he has collaborated with everyone from Japanese artist Takashi Murakami to the late designer Virgil Abloh. In 2020, The New York Times dubbed the visionary a “king of graffiti,” a title that many can agree to.

The live auction and donations generated an impressive $1.2 million that will help fund a new scholarship program called the Futura for the Future Scholarship Fund. The artist generously donated an impromptu $100,000, demonstrating his commitment to the next generation of artists. “We wanted to try to raise the most money to date because in 2021 they weren’t able to have an event at all. We wanted to make up for the year missed,” explains Sky Gellatly, Futura’s manager. Among the attendees were Supreme founder James Jebbia, Rosie Perez, Marcus Leslie Singleton, DJ Vashtie, Richie Shazam, and Julia Fox. “As a native New Yorker and having gone to public school, I know how important these programs are, and so it spoke to me,” says Fox.

Founder of Free Arts NYC Liz Hopfan, who dazzled in the same vibrant yellow suit Harry Styles wore to the 2020 Brit Awards, was more than thrilled to voice the accolades of Free Arts NYC’s students—a testament to the success of the organization. Of the students who spoke to the guests, all were equally impressive in their own right and shared the impact the programming has had on not only their early careers but their lives.