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Travel Around the World with 12 Luxurious Art & Culture Experiences

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This December, Sotheby’s inaugural A Life of Luxury week will feature an array of fine items ranging from jewellery and fashion to wine and watches. But for those who prefer gifts that don’t come in a box, Sotheby’s and IfOnly present Experience Art & Culture: An Online Auction, where by giving back, you can gain access to the world’s most iconic cultural destinations. Partnering with renowned museums, historic cities and regional experts, Sotheby’s and IfOnly have unlocked the opportunity to engage with and support cultural treasures located in Paris, Hong Kong, Cape Town, Lima and more. Click ahead for a first look at the twelve experiences on offer. 

Experience Art & Culture: An Online Auction
27 November–8 December

Travel Around the World with 12 Luxurious Art & Culture Experiences

  • An Insider’s Marfa Experience with Yvonne Force Villareal and Douglas Friedman
    Guests: 2
    Starting bid $9,500.
    Benefitting Marfa Educational Foundation
    Join art-world impresario Yvonne Force Villareal for an exclusive tour through Marfa’s many landmarks. Go behind the scenes of Marfa’s distinctive art installations, including Elmgreen & Dragset’s iconic Prada Marfa sculpture, and receive private access to contemporary art galleries like the Judd Foundation and Ballroom Marfa. Then join Yvonne for drinks at the historic Brite Home, built by her husband’s ancestor (and Marfa co-founder) Charles Luke Brite. On your second day, globetrotting fashion photographer Douglas Friedman will take the reins. Follow Douglas to his favourite galleries, shops and artist hangouts before ending your evening at his personal ranch for cocktails and sunset watching.

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  • Dinner and Visit to Peggy Guggenheim’s Venetian Villa
    Guests: 4
    Starting bid $16,000.
    Benefitting Friends of Florence
    From the cubist masterpieces of Pablo Picasso to the powerful, abstract paintings of Jackson Pollock, the Peggy Guggenheim Museum’s collection of Modern art is among the world’s best. After public hours and alongside an art expert, your group will investigate the works of major Modernists, including Salvador Dalí, Kandinsky, Man Ray, Rothko, Mondrian and Joseph Cornell, as well as a spectacular garden pavilion housing lesser-known and underappreciated artists. After the tour, you and your guests will be treated to an exceptional Venetian multi-course feast.

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  • The Arts of Hong Kong: An Exclusive Visit
    Guests: 2
    Starting bid $5,500.
    Benefitting Asian Art Archives
    Concept meets curation at Duddell’s, Hong Kong’s new creative hub for contemporary arts and fine traditional cuisine. Your art-inspired adventure in Hong Kong begins with two-night’s stay at the stunning Upper House Hotel. At Duddell’s, head curator and historian Catherine Maudsley will lead a private tour of the exhibits, as well as rarely seen pieces from the archives of private collectors. Additional highlights include an unforgettable eight-course dinner, as well as a hands-on cooking class where Duddell’s dim sum chef teaches how to prepare a Michelin-starred dumpling.

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  • National Geographic Expedition to South Africa: Cape Town and Wildlife Safari with National Geographic Photographer
    Starting bid $35,000.
    Benefitting National Geographic Society
    You’ll start your weeklong South African journey in historic Cape Town, where you can explore world-class museums and galleries, including the Zeitz MoCAA , “Africa’s Tate Modern.” The trip continues throughout the Cape Peninsula coastline and later to the food artisan hub of Noordhoek Farm Village. After a full day exploring the Cape Winelands region, an up-and-coming destination for oenophiles, you’ll sample several of the region’s finest wines at the Cape Dutch town of Franschhoek. Finally, you will embark on a thrilling safari with a professional National Geographic photographer. Each night you will retire to accommodations at the artfully decorated Sabi Sabi Little Bush Camp, one of National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World.

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  • Experience the tuning of The Bay Lights with artist Leo Villareal
    Guests: 3
    Starting bid $4,800.
    Benefitting Illuminate
    The Bay Lights, Leo Villareal’s captivating LED display on the Bay Bridge is an ethereal masterpiece. On 15 February, you and two guests will join Leo at Waterbar near the Bay Bridge for an unforgettable dinner beneath the cascading lights. Chat with the world-renowned contemporary artist about his unique process, as you enjoy seasonal dishes at one of San Francisco’s foremost seafood restaurants. Finally, see him take over the controls and get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see him direct the artwork as it displays across the entire San Francisco Bay. Funds from this experience will benefit Illuminate, the public art organisation that made The Bay Lights happen.

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  • A private guided tour of the Louvre Museum with a 2-night stay at the Hôtel Ritz Paris
    Guests: 10
    Starting bid $16,000.
    Benefitting American Friends of the Louvre
    IfOnly invites you to experience the world-renowned museum like few ever have with a private tour through the Musée du Louvre’s collection of masterpieces. You will be able to uniquely curate the tour to fit your group’s interests, for example, a Masterpiece Tour with the exhibit director, an in-depth look at Greek and Roman Antiquities or a specialised journey through Michelangelo's Italian Renaissance. After your tour, indulge in a Parisian dinner with a three-course meal at the museum’s chic Café Marly, a contemporary brasserie with stunning views of the Louvre. Your stay in Paris includes a two-night accommodations for two people at the five-star Hôtel Ritz Paris. 

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  • Private Venice Architecture Biennale Tour
    Guests: 4
    Starting bid $9,500.
    Benefitting Friends of Florence
    One of several events at the upcoming International Art Exhibition, the Venice Biennale in Architecture is the most important and prestigious exhibition in its field. IfOnly invites you to experience the annual expo with a rare behind-the-scenes tour. With a leading art professor as your guide, you and your guests will discover an academic angle to the countless exhibits in the Giardini, the Arsenale and other venues around Venice. You will also enjoy rare artist interactions during the 2018 Biennale’s “Freespace” theme, including an expert-led tour of a private art collection. 

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  • Dine in an Architectural Marvel
    Guests: 10
    Starting bid $28,000.
    Benefitting National Trust for Historic Preservation
    Mark your next big occasion with a gourmet meal in one of the most unique and memorable places in the world – The Glass House. Built between 1949 and 1995 by renowned architect Philip Johnson, the estate is now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and welcomes about 13,000 visitors from around the globe each year. This iconic piece of architecture, set high atop a dramatic hill in the Connecticut countryside, about one hour northeast of New York City, was home to Johnson. The day will also include a behind-the-scenes tour of the Glass House, including the Studio Library and world-class art collection. 

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  • Florence by Night: Museo Bargello and Casa Davanzati
    Guests: 4
    Starting bid $24,000.
    Benefitting Friends of Florence
    IfOnly invites you to explore the Birthplace of the Renaissance with this trio of unforgettable, curated Italian experiences. On your agenda are private, after-hours tours of two legends of Italian architecture: Palazzo Davanzati , the former noble house represents a transition between the Middle Ages and the Early Renaissance, and the Bargello Museum , the Uffizi of sculpture collections. The private tour continues at the Museo Nazionale, where you’ll see works by Donatello, Luca della Robbia, Verrocchio and Michelangelo. After the tours, you and your guests will be treated to a traditional Florentine meal.

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  • National Geographic Expedition to Peru: Incan Odyssey
    Guests: 2
    Starting bid $14,000.
    Benefitting National Geographic Society
    Your weeklong adventure with National Geographic begins exploring Lima’s many beautiful neighborhoods, the Barranco art district and the Larco Museum, which houses an impressive collection of pre-Columbian art. Next, you will spend two days in Cusco, followed by an awe-inspiring visit to the citadel of Ollantaytambo. You will be treated to a private tour of Pablo Seminario’s Ceramic Workshop, where local artisans still practice ancient Peruvian techniques and designs. Finally, a breathtaking train ride brings you to Machu Picchu’s doorstep, where during your expedition, you will stay in two spectacular National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World: Hotel La Casona and Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba. At each, you’ll enjoy excellent, locally inspired cuisine and an activity exclusive to National Geographic guests.

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  • London Dining, Hotel & Art Tour at the Serpentine
    Guests: 2
    Starting bid $4,800.
    Benefitting Serpentine Galerie
    Set amid the lush greenery of London’s Kensington Gardens, the celebrated Serpentine Gallery  has championed the work of both established and up-and-coming artists for almost half a century. Join Serpentine CEO Yana Peel for a private, closed-to-the-public tour of its exhibition spaces. After you’ll head to historic St. Thomas Church in London Bridge for a six-course Cantonese cuisine meal prepared by Chef Daren Liew, who will later lead a cooking class. Throughout your stay you will enjoy suite accommodations at the acclaimed Town Hall Hotel, set in the heart of London’s vibrant East End. 

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  • Private Polo Lesson with Nacho Figueras
    Starting bid $12,000.
    Benefitting Sentebale
    Learn the basics of this sophisticated and elegant game, known as “The Sport of Kings,” from Nacho Figueras, one of the top polo players in the world. The beautiful Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club will be your personal playground as Nacho leads you on an hour-long lesson. Ride next to the Ralph Lauren model and learn fundamental strategies including how to properly swing your mallet and maneuver your horse. Funds from this experience will benefit Sentebale, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people affected by HIV in Southern Africa.

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