LOS ANGELES — A fundraiser and silent auction in memory of Carlos Batts will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. this Friday at Antebellum Gallery in Hollywood.
Batts, the beloved artist, photographer and filmmaker, passed away suddenly on Oct. 22 at age 40. His wife and muse, adult star April Flores, has been hit with costly bills in the aftermath, and the Los Angeles arts community is rallying to raise money to defray those charges.
This Friday at Antebellum works of art will be on display and ready to be picked up by winning bidders that night. Some of the most notable personalities in contemporary art, including Coop, Matthew Bone and Shepard Fairey, have donated works to the benefit that was organized by photographer Dave Naz and other close friends of Batts. Photographers including Gregory Bojorquez, Patrick Hoelck, Eric Kroll and Estevan Oriol have contributed works for the silent auction.
Adult entertainment luminaries such as Nina Hartley and Buck Angel will also have artwork available for bid.
The auction will also include pieces by Batts himself that have been donated by his widow. Batts had exhibited various media such as photography and 3-D sculpture in art galleries. A selection of his recent work will be on display Friday.
One-hundred percent of the proceeds of the event will go to April Flores for the purpose of defraying the costs associated with the unexpected death of her husband.
Batts was remembered by family and friends this past Friday and Saturday at a prayer vigil and memorial service at the Church of the Recessional at Forest Lawn in Glendale.
A Paypal account for donation purposes is available: CarlosBattsMemorialFund@gmail.com.
The Antebellum Gallery is located at 1643 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, 90028. For more information call the Antelbellum Gallery at 323.856.0667. The art benefit is 21 & over.
