Anonymous art auction will go to Mexico City

Anónimo, a charity auction held since 2016 in Miami during Art Basel week, offers a twist on the traditional format: works are solicited from major artists and mounted in a curated exhibition, but the catalogue contains no names. Bidders—armed with a list of participating artists, a few hours to inspect the goods, and perhaps a hunch or two—only discover the creator's identity after purchase. Organised by the Mexico City-based cultural non-profit of the same name, this year's edition, held on 8 December at the newly reopened Bass Museum of Art in partnership with Paddle8, featuring 23 works by names like José Dávila, Pedro Reyes and Liliana Porter, raised $128,000. Artists "are really excited by the format", says Alejandra Martínez, one of Anónimo's five founding partners. "Some of them started approaching me in March, saying, 'I know what I want to do this year.'" After major earthquakes rocked Mexico City in September, she knew that the auction had to support not only Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico, but also her neighbours. With 35% of proceeds going to charity—in this instance, the Bass, #LevantemosMexico and Boys & Girls Club Puerto Rico—what better way to assuage buyer's remorse if one's guess goes south? The next chance will come in September 2018, with a new installment in Mexico City, the founders have announced.