It’s no secret that 2020 has been the kindest to the rich and famous. Perhaps if the year could name a winner (aside from Jeff Bezos), it would be that seductively elusive population of introverted celebrities and reclusive billionaires for which 2020’s damper on social gatherings has been just an enormous relief. Those that once struggled to leave their homes without encountering a barrage of fans begging for selfies can now fashionably disguise themselves behind anti-microbial masks. Those weary of red carpets and multi-hour award shows can find a welcome reprieve in social distancing mandates. Even the relentless stream of charity events, all vying for a place on their calendars, has become increasingly manageable, it seems, with the fall of the posh society gala and the rise of the digital fundraiser.
On Monday night, Sotheby’s, in collaboration with the New York print studio and gallery Two Palms, hosted one such affair: Choice Works, an online benefit event and auction in support of Planned Parenthood. The event, a celebration of Two Palms’s 25th anniversary, also paid timely homage to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The auction featured never-before sold works by prominent artists, including Laurie Simmons, Marilyn Minter, Jasper Johns, Ed Ruscha, Jeff Koons, and Ellen Gallagher, many of whom discussed their contributions in the pre-recorded compilation video that aired during the online event. Outspoken advocates for reproductive rights populated the evening program, emceed in part by artists Cecily Brown and Amy Sherald. Kristen Bell, Miranda July, and Alan Cumming, broadcasting from their homes, voiced their commitment to Planned Parenthood and urged viewers to vote in November. T-shirts, designed by Cindy Sherman in collaboration with Narciso Rodgriguez, were sold in conjunction with the festivities. It was the ideal antidote to “benefit fatigue,” as Evelyn Lasry, who co-owns Two Palms with her husband David Lasry, called it....