July 21st 2023.
Venus and Serena Williams have combined with their sister Isha Price to auction off four never-before-seen works by Ernie Barnes for charity. The pieces, two paintings and two drawings, will be put up for bidding on the digital-first auction house platform Joopiter from July 24 to August 1.
The two paintings, titled "Holding Court" and "Mentors" are estimated to go for between $80,000 to $120,000 and $120,000 to $180,000 respectively. Ernie Barnes, born Ernest Eugene Barnes Jr., was an American artist who passed away in 2009 and has been receiving a resurgence of interest in his work in recent years.
The Williams sisters are working together with the Barnes estate to benefit the Yetunde Price Resource Center, an organization founded by them in 2018 in honor of their late oldest sister, Yetunde Price. Serena, an avid art collector, expressed her admiration for Barnes’ work, and how the charity auction will benefit their hometown of Compton, Los Angeles.
“Ernie Barnes is an iconic Black artist my family and I have long admired," said Serena. "Through his vibrant imagery, he envisioned a colorful world of harmony between all communities, backgrounds, and races. These never-before-seen works of Ernie Barnes will help fund and provide vital resources to those affected by violence in Compton and underserved communities across the country.”
This is the second charity art auction Venus Williams has hosted in recent months, following the one she organized at Sotheby's in May to raise funds for the preservation of Nina Simone’s childhood home in North Carolina.
“This collaboration allows us to share our deep love of art in a way that enriches and empowers the broader community,” said Venus. “Ernie Barnes’ artwork played a profound role in creating societal change, and we hope this partnership will similarly inspire, uplift, and make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and the communities we serve.”
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