LONDON.- Raising over £664,000 ($1,046,464), Saturday’s Charity Auction for Women for Women International at Christie’s, King Street was a resounding success. The auction, which took place during Frieze week, secured much needed funds which will go towards supporting women in conflict zones. The money raised will help thousands of women move from victim, to survivor, to active citizen – changing the world, one woman at a time.

Held on Saturday 15 October 2011 the project, entitled Artists for Women for Women International was co-organised by the British artist, Jenny Saville and French film producer, Nadja Romain who invited the 22 internationally acclaimed artists who contributed 23 exclusively commissioned lots. Names such as Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley, Bridget Riley and Richard Serra ensured that Artists for Women for Women International attracted great attention and bidders to the Charity Auction which was part of Christie’s Post War and Contemporary Day Sale. The commissioned works were previously on show at Gagosian Gallery, Britannia Street.

Estimates on the works ranged from £1,000 to £120,000 and were substantially exceeded. Louise Nevelson’s donated sculptural piece more than quadrupled its top estimate at £46,850 ($73,836). Likewise Belgian artist, Carsten Höller’s colour screenprint, Rentierkopf (Reindeer Head), achieved £7,500 ($11,820) far surpassing its £1,000 - £2,000 estimate. The works donated by Richard Serra, Cecily Brown and Elizabeth Peyton all more than doubled their top estimates making over £225,000 ($354,600) in total for the three pieces, almost a third of the auction total.

Nadja Romain, co-organiser of Artists for Women for Women International, whose relationship with the charity started last year when she co-produced limited edition artists’ version of the UK magazine TANK raising £250,000, said; ‘I am so grateful to all of the contributing artists who helped to raise awareness and funds to support the work of Women for Women International. When a woman enters the program it changes her life but also the life of her family and community. The money raised through the Charity Auction will impact upon thousands of lives. I hope that 2011 will be a turning point in the history of women as the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni activist Tawakkul Karman were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their struggle to support the safety of women and women's rights. Everyone behind Artists for Women for Women International, including Jenny Saville and myself, has contributed to this ongoing global campaign. By sponsoring a woman through Women for Women International, we can all make a huge step in making lifetime changes for women in conflict zones and giving them the human and political rights they are entitled to.’

Kate Nustedt, Executive Director at Women for Women International UK, commented; ‘We are enormously grateful to Nadja Romain, Jenny Saville and all the artists, Christie's, Gagosian Gallery and our Honorary Committee. This amazing collaboration with the art world shows what is possible when we come together, and it means that thousands more women in war-torn countries will be able to rebuild their lives.’

After a chance meeting between Romain, Saville and Zainab Salbi, Founder and CEO of Women for Women International, the two decided to join forces and launch this incredible project, realising the power and immense support they had to bring hope and change to the lives not only of the women, but their families and communities as well. The money raised at the Charity Auction will continue the vital work Women for Women International does for women across the world.