Latest news with #charityauction
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
U2's the Edge buys Titanic artwork at Belfast charity auction
It's not every day one of the world's biggest rock stars rocks up and buys something you've why Belfast artist Stephen Whalley found it "a bit of a shocker" when U2's The Edge found his portrait of the Titanic Museum even better than the real thing, before buying it at a charity auction last who created the painting live during the event at the museum, described it as "a bit of a pinnacle" of his career."I was so pleased, I couldn't believe it," he told BBC News NI. "It's sort of like a pat on the back for myself, to say, you know: 'This is working. You must be doing something right to be standing up here and for this to happen.'"I've been a big U2 fan myself from when I was a wee boy - and I'm listening to it here most nights as well when I'm painting in the studio."Stephen, who worked on the painting while guests attended the event for the Cancer Fund for Children, said the Edge gave him some wordless encouragement during the evening."He walked past me and sort of looked over at the painting, at what I was doing, and he sort of just nodded and gave me a thumbs up and a little wink." The Paints are Coming That encouragement turned real when the Edge began bidding on the painting, a move that left Stephen, who said he put his "heart and soul" into the artwork, feeling "very humbled"."I was up on stage, I said my piece, they started auctioning it off - the Edge was sort of sitting looking at me, sort of smiling and it got to the point where he started bidding."And I don't think anybody wanted to try to outbid him on the night, so he won the painting in the auction. I was so, so pleased and I couldn't believe it." The artist said the process of painting live is "slightly different" to being in his studio but that he focuses on "making it the best I can". "I'm generally a bit of a show off anyway, so it sort of helps that I've got a crowd to watch it, and it really puts me under a little bit of pressure to make it even better."Stephen said the painting sold for four figures and he's "just so happy for the charity" and felt "a bit of a spur" to raise money for it. But why paint the Titanic Museum? For Stephen, it's partly due to advice from his grandfather to take photos of things so "you can look back" because they "might not be here" said ongoing development around the Titanic Museum means the view he painted won't be the same in the future."With the likes of the Titanic [building], there's development going on and things will happen.""It's hard to take for a lot of Belfast people when they're going to drive over the M3 and they sort of can't see it anymore."As for the Edge, Stephen said the guitarist was very down to a photo after the auction, the artist "went to stand at the other side of the painting and he said no, no, come over beside me, and he got me to put my arm around him and he put his arm around me". "It was quite a lovely moment."
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Stars convene for amfAR gala to raise millions for AIDS research
Artwork by Adrien Brody and James Franco and a chance to sit courtside at a Knicks game with director Spike Lee were among the starry offerings at the annual amfAR Gala to raise money for AIDS research. Held at the famous Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes on Thursday, the evening attracted scores of celebrities in the area for the Cannes Film Festival. Guests included Brody, Lee, Colman Domingo, Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, and Heidi Klum. This year's top items for sale included a Dodge Charger that featured in 'Fast X,' sold off by Rodriguez, raising 475,000 euros ($536,843). There were also some Chopard pear shaped yellow diamond earrings that reached 400,000 ($452,005) euros in the bidding. During the meal guests were also entertained with musical performances from Ciara, who opened the night, Adam Lambert and headlining the dinner with Duran Duran. Guest shimmied from their tables to the front of the room to stand in front of the stage and sing along to hits like 'Notorious' and 'View to a Kill' (which wouldn't be the only James Bond reference of the night). The sale included artwork from Brody — sold for 375,000 euros ($423,755) with lunch with the star thrown in — and Franco — (sold for 325,000 euros ($367,254) also with a lunch offered with the winning bid. Another highlight was a May 2025 George Condo painting that raised 1.15 million euros ($1.26 million). Lee came to the stage and offered a surprise lot, a walk-on part in his next movie. Part of the way through the bidding he added tickets to sit next to him courtside at a New York Nicks game next season, driving the price up to 400,000 euros ($452,005). The fashion show is a regular feature of the auction curated by Carine Roitfeld, this year was Bond-inspired and saw 27 models turn the middle of the dinning room into a catwalk as they paraded through the room waving at guests they recognized and posing for photos on route. The collection made 450,000 euros ($508,505) for the charity, auctioned off as one complete lot. The Foundation for AIDS Research, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has raised nearly $950 million (841 million euros) in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide. ___ Louise Dixon has covered the amfAR gala for more than a decade. Among most memorable items she's seen sold at auction are a game of soccer with David Beckham and his friends, a private dinner performance from Andrea Bocelli at his family home and lunch with Robert De Niro that combined have raised more than 2 million euros. ___
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Travis Kelce poses with fans who bought stunning Taylor Swift merch at Patrick Mahomes' charity event
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce posed with the fans who bought the acoustic guitar signed by his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, which was donated for Patrick Mahomes ' charity auction. Kelce popped up in Las Vegas alongside his favorite quarterback on Thursday night as Mahomes' charity, 15 and the Mahomies, held its annual benefit, which included the auction and a golf event at Shadow Creek. Swift's acoustic guitar appears to reach a price of $15,000 during the auction, with Travis faking to enter the sweepstakes for the six-string signed by his partner. The identity of the winning bidders has been revealed, with Instagram user @m_janian and what appears to be her husband getting the snap with Kelce. The photo shows Kelce in his suit in the middle, with the woman holding the black instrument with the title of Swift's latest album, 'The Tortured Poets Department', inscribed below the strings. Swift's signature is evident alongside a photo of her which is imprinted into the wood of the six-string. Earlier Thursday, Mahomes held a glitzy poolside party for celebrities attending the tournament including Rob Riggle, Johnny Manziel, and Von Miller. Also at the charity gala, Mahomes and Kelce were seen sitting next to each other while a speech was being made with the foundation's logo on the nearby lectern. Swift and Kelce have maintained a low profile since the Super Bowl, enjoying time in private after the Chiefs lost their quest for another championship in February to the Philadelphia Eagles. Swift herself was not in attendance in Las Vegas, but Brittany Mahomes was, wearing a sleek black dress. Earlier in the week, Kelce was in New York City with older brother Jason Kelce for an event with Prime Video. The final round of the golf event took place Friday in Las Vegas, with Mahomes' father, Patrick Mahomes Sr., being given special dispensation by the authorities to fly to Las Vegas for his son's star-studded golf event, as he continues to deal with the fallout of his DWI arrest. On Wednesday, the complete 2025 NFL schedule was released, with it being a long season of travel and interference with prior commitments for Kelce. Kelce publicly revealed his dread at the upcoming schedule on the latest episode of the New Heights podcast when he revealed that the Chiefs would be opening their season against the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The NFL also confirmed on Wednesday morning that the Chiefs will play Dallas Cowboys in Texas on Thanksgiving. Kelce and Swift arrived hand-in-hand for a Mother's Day lunch in Philadelphia last week Kelce and Swift were spotted out in public together for the first time in months, reportedly joining Jason, Kylie and both of their moms for a heartwarming Mother's Day lunch in Philadelphia. Taylor was all smiles and held Travis' hand as they arrived at Talula's Garden for the meal in Washington Square, Philadelphia last week, according to various social media reports. Their shock arrival is said to have stunned diners at the popular farm-to-table restaurant, but Taylor grinned from ear-to-ear as she walked in for the Mother's Day meal with both sides of the family. According to the TikTok user who shared the photos of the pair, both Taylor's mom Andrea and Travis' mom Donna were present, though neither were pictured. Despite its exclusivity, the food is well-priced, with Sunday's brunch menu featuring a southern style shrimp and grits for $25, southern peach pancakes for $22, and buttermilk fried chicken and waffle for $24. Travis and Taylor have not been spotted together publicly since a dinner date in New York City back in March.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Travis Kelce reveals precious gift from Taylor Swift as he joins Patrick Mahomes in Las Vegas
Travis Kelce has revealed that Grammy Award-winning girlfriend Taylor Swift donated a blue autographed guitar to a charity auction for Patrick Mahomes ' charity event in Las Vegas. Kelce popped up in Sin City alongside his favorite quarterback on Thursday night as Mahomes' charity, 15 and the Mahomies, holds its annual golf event at Shadow Creek. Earlier Thursday, Mahomes held a glitzy poolside party for celebrities attending the tournament including Rob Riggle, Johnny Manziel, and Von Miller. Swift's acoustic guitar appears to reach a price of $15,000 during the auction, with Travis faking to enter the sweepstakes for the six-string signed by his partner. 'I just realized I have that already,' Kelce said, bowing out of the race for the guitar. Earlier in the week, Kelce was in New York City with older brother Jason Kelce for an event with Prime Video. More to come.
