Through the end of January, the advertising billboards of 500 taxi cabs will be reinvigorated by Chuck Close and Kehinde Wiley’s artwork.

Chuck Close is an American artist primarily known for his photo-realist portrait paintings, but has also worked in the field of photography for many years. His daguerreotypes, done in collaboration with Jerry Spagnoli, an extensive photographic process giving images a silver luminescent affect, were featured in Aperture magazine # 160, then published in book format in 2006 titled, “A Couple of Ways of Doing Something”.

Close has chosen to crop details of these larger portraits for the “Art Adds” public art campaign.

This is “Art Adds” second annual collaboration between “Show Media” and the non-profit “Art Production Fund,” a fund dedicated to “producing ambitions public art projects, reaching new audiences, and expanding awareness through contemporary art.”

Sway, 2009 by Jowhara AlSaud

Today is the first day to bid online for items in Aperture’s largest auction ever. Browse Aperture’s Auction Catalog which features photographic works by a diverse range of artists including Jowhara AlSaud, Diane Arbus, Bruce Davidson, Joel Meyerowitz, Richard Misrach, Graham Nash, Mickalene Thomas, Brian Ulrich, James Welling, Kehinde Wiley, Michael Wolf, and Hank Willis Thomas. For the first time ever Aperture is also presenting an Emerging Artists Auction with works by Timothy Briner, Jen Davis, Cig Harvey, Mark Lyon, LaToya Ruby Frazier, and Will Steacy, among many others. Online bidding will remain open through Monday, November 1st at 12:00 noon EST.

Aperture’s 2010 Benefit and Auction will take place at The Lighthouse, Chelsea Piers on November 1st honoring Richard Misrach, Steven Ames, and Julie Saul. Immediately following the Benefit Dinner and Live Auction, the SNAP! Benefit Party co-chaired by Hank Willis Thomas, Carolyn Francis, and Giovanni Tomaselli of Polaroid, will feature special guest DJs, a raffle, an open bar, lite bites and treats.

Click here to preview auction items and bid online

Click here for more details and to purchase tickets to the 2010 Benefit Dinner & Auction

Click here for more details and to purchase tickets to the SNAP! Benefit Party

Detail from Untitled, 2008 by Richard Misrach

Join Aperture for its 2010 Benefit and Auction on November 1st honoring photographer Richard Misrach; collector, philanthropist, former Aperture Trustee Steven Ames; and gallerist Julie Saul. This year’s auction will be Aperture’s largest ever with opportunities to bid on an exciting roster of prints by Diane Arbus, Bruce Davidson, Susan Meiselas, Joel Meyerowitz, Curtis Mann, Mickalene Thomas, Paul Strand, James Welling, Hank Willis Thomas and Kehinde Wiley among others.

Directly following the Benefit and Auction, the first-ever SNAP! Benefit Party and Emerging Artists Silent Auction hosted by SNAP!, Aperture’s Young Patrons Program will feature music spun by special guests DJs, an open bar, and great raffle prizes. The Emerging Artists Auction includes rising photographers such as Timothy Briner, Jen Davis, Adam Krause, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Will Steacy and many more.

Click here to preview silent and live auction items

Click here for more details and to purchase tickets to the 2010 Benefit and Auction

Click here for more details and to purchase tickets to the 2010 SNAP! Benefit Party

Self portrait by Chuck Close

Now on view at the National Portrait Gallery is an exhibition titled, Americans Now featuring portraits of various mediums and subjects from their permanent collection. On display are portraits of many of America’s famous leaders and professionals, by a diverse roster of artists including works by Dan Winters, whose book Periodical Photographs was released by Aperture, Chuck Close, whose Aperture monograph A Couple Ways of Doing Something presents his daguerrotype portraits, and Kehinde Wiley and Mickalene Thomas whose work will be included in Aperture’s upcoming  2010 Benefit & Auction!

Americans Now
On view August 20, 2010 – July 10, 2011

National Portrait Gallery
Eighth and F streets, NW
Washington D.C.