Celebrities show heart at (Red) auction

Arts and Culture

A celebrity-studded Valentine's Day charity auction of contemporary artworks co-organized by Bono raised more than $42.5 million to benefit HIV/AIDS relief programs in Africa.

The (Red) Auction on Valentine's Day raised more than $42.5 million to benefit HIV/AIDS relief programs in Africa. U2 frontman Bono, who helped organize the event, gets close to his wife, Ali Hewson.

Dr. Michel Kazatchkine from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS and Bobby Shriver, CEO of Product Red. Shriver and Bono created (Red), which has partnered with companies such as Apple, Gap and Converse.

Actress Ziyi Zhang, who starred in "Memoirs of a Geisha," was one of the celebrities who came to support the cause. Others included Martha Stewart, Russell Simmons and John McEnroe.

The event even attracted royalty: Queen Noor of Jordan, with Bono and Bobby Shriver.

Actor Dennis Hopper and wife Victoria came to see the works of Jasper Johns, Jeff Koons and others that were on the auction block.

Model Christy Turlington bought Francesco Clemente's "Red Flower on Scorched Earth" for $170,500. She has traveled to Swaziland on behalf of the charity.

Sotheby's, another co-organizer, got into the spirit of things by bathing its exterior in red light.

Bono, who co-founded Debt AIDS Trade Africa (DATA), opened the auction and sang an a capella version of "All You Need Is Love."

Auctioneer Alda Barker takes bids. Sixty artists contributed works, some of which were created specifically for the event.

Damien Hirst's heart-shaped butterfly painting beat its estimate and sold for $2.2 million to a phone bidder. Hirst was one of the organizers.

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The (Red) Auction on Valentine's Day raised more than $42.5 million to benefit HIV/AIDS relief programs in Africa. U2 frontman Bono, who helped organize the event, gets close to his wife, Ali Hewson.

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