Vendu–Sold is an annual contemporary art benefit auction created to ensure that Les éditions esse, a not-for-profit organization, can continue to successfully promote and disseminate contemporary art and artists on the Canadian and international scenes. Advised by a committee of experts, the auction offers collectors and art lovers the opportunity to acquire high-quality artworks by renowned and emerging Canadian artists while contributing to the development of Les éditions esse. Part of the proceeds also goes to the participating artists.
The 2018 Vendu–Sold auction, conducted by Laurent Berniard, offered 42 artworks of exceptional quality chosen by a selection committee comprising the curator of the Hydro-Québec collection and president of Les éditions esse, Anne-Claude Bacon; the Ville de Montréal's Service de la culture cultural development agent for visual arts, Julie Bélisle; the independent author and curator, Florence-Agathe Dubé-Moreau; the collections management consultant, Jo-Ann Kane; the curator of collections at the Musée d'art de Joliette, Marie-Claude Landry; and the director of Les éditions esse, Sylvette Babin.
Read the word from the our 2018 honorary president, Mary-Dailey Desmarais, as well as the word from the director, Sylvette Babin.