Together, we raised over $750,000 in support of Washington State artists!

On Saturday, March 14, more than 450 artists, advocates, and community members gathered at the 2026 Benefit Art Auction to celebrate Artist Trust’s 40th anniversary and support Washington State artists. Thanks to this incredible community, we raised over $750,000—a record-breaking total and a powerful launchpad for our next 40 years.

This support will have immediate impact. We are proud to announce that Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) awards will increase from $1,500 to $2,500 in 2026, better meeting the real needs of artists across Washington State.

This year’s auction was particularly poignant as we celebrated Artist Trust’s 40th anniversary. It was deeply touching to gather with so many community members, past and present, in the room together.

As we look back, we honor the generations who made this moment possible: the artists who took creative risks, the advocates who believed artists deserve direct support, and the leaders who built this foundation. A special thank you to the leaders, advocates, and organizers featured in our 40th anniversary auction video, Artist Trust Co-Founders Anne Focke and Jim Olson, Board members Anthony White and Joseph Sunga, and Board Emeritus members Edie Adams, Pablo Schugurensky, Shari Behnke, Sarah Traver, and Stephanie Ellis Smith. Because of the collective commitment of our community over the past four decades, Artist Trust has invested more than $15 million directly in Washington State artists.

Auction Committee

Anthony White | Community Co-Chair
Judith Rinehart | Board Co-Chair

Amir Amini, Jeremie Berg, Lee Campbell, Elisabeth Crotty, Zach Fink, Tommy Gregory, Allison Kramer, Negarra Kudumu, Linda Lewis, Amanda Manitach, Stephanie Maurer, Chris Nishiwaki, Catherine Nueva España, Sumi Paranjape, Rachel Ravitch, Jennifer Roberts, Katy Stone, Scott Stulen, Joseph Sunga, Erin Weible

Avery Barnes | Founder and Director of Avery Barnes Gallery
Kris Lewis | John S. Behnke Director of the Henry Art Gallery
Cathy Sarkowsky | Artist and founder of Vashon Artist Residency

Thank you to our donating artists! Artists generously donate all or a portion of the proceeds from their work to Artist Trust. Donating artists receive 50% of the proceeds from the sale of their art, unless otherwise arranged.

Filmon Adelehey*, Juan Alonso-Rodríguez*, Julie Alpert*, Jyotsna Ambarukhana, Crista Ann Ames*, Enid Smith Becker, Ben Beres*, Robert Bickel, Derek Bruno, Elizabeth Bruno, Douglas Jan Burgess*, Chris Burnside, Julius Bush, Dan Cautrell*, Eric Chan, Jaq Chartier*, William Chen, Ling Chun*, Martha Clarkson, Jo Cosme*, Casey Curran*, Pamela Davis*, Susan Dory*, Warren Dykeman, Joe Feddersen*, RYAN! Feddersen*, Kelsey Fernkopf, James Freese, Gina Freuen*, Jennifer Frohwerk, Randi Ganulin, Tatiana Garmendia*, Noble Golden, Steve Gilbert, Catherine Grisez*, Gretchen Hansen, Ariana Heinzman, Soo Hong*, Stacy Hsu, Steve Jensen*, Maggie Jiang, Fay Jones*, Rachel Kalman, Shaun Kardinal*, Samantha Kasprowicz, Bonnie Katz Sailors, Kaethe Kauffman, Jade Knox, Carolyn Krieg*, Sarah Kusz, maëry lanahan, Lead Pencil Studio, Esther Loopstra, Stacy Lovejoy*, L. Kelly Lyles*, Maggie Mackin, Kelsey Malone, Amanda Manitach*, Holly Ballard Martz*, Cathy McClure*, Erin Milez, Ryan Molenkamp, Julia Monté, Yoshi Nakagawa*, Mary Ann Peters*, Johanna Porter, Megan Prince, Anthony Prud’homme, Devin River, Maja Sereda, Mikaela Shafer*, Ann Leda Shapiro*, Preston Singletary*, Judith Skillman*, Cameron Smith, Lisa Snow Lady*, Emily Somoskey*, Charles Spitzack, Jay Stern, Yongqi Tang*, Wendy Wahman, Lara Wallace, Chad Wentzel, Rene Westbrook*, James Wilson, Kalina Winska, Yale Wolf, Rickie Wolfe, Allyce Wood*, Rya Wu*, Cynthia Yatchman, Neon Zinn

*Artist Trust Grantee