On May 22, “FIERCE CREATIVITY: A Selling Exhibition for the Future of Haiti” was held at the FLAG Art Foundation in New York City to benefit Artists for Peace and Justice. The event was a tremendous success, with 15 artists donating works to raise $600,000.

FIERCE CREATIVITY was presented by Italian jeweler and longtime APJ supporters Vhernier.  Co-hosts included friends of Artists for Peace and Justice Maya and James Frey, in addition to Sabine and Andy Avini, APJ CEO David Belle and Alixe Boyer, Jessica Craig-Martin, Adam Gopnik, Amanda and Glenn Fuhrman, Amy Todd Middleton, Amy Phelan and Vhernier CEO Carlo Traglio.

The artworks sold in support of Artists for Peace and Justice included pieces by Dan Colen, John Currin, Damien Hirst, Jasper Johns and Richard Prince. All the artists donated the works themselves, for which we are tremendously grateful.

Special thanks to our co-hosts and the FLAG Art Foundation for making such a terrific evening possible for Haiti. As APJ CEO David Belle said at the event, “Our commitment to building high-quality, long-lasting institutions for the kids of Haiti is now firmer than ever.”

Check out photos from the event below!

We’re excited to announce that contemporary artist and OBEY Giant designer Shepard Fairey has just released his limited edition Artists for Peace and Justice Haiti poster! Shepard is an APJ Advisory Board member and has worked with us before in post-earthquake fundraising efforts. This time, the aim is to raise additional funds and awareness for our school construction needs by selling 400 exclusive posters, all signed by Shepard himself. The original photograph used for the screen print was taken by our founding country director Bryn Mooser, depicting two smiling current students from the Academy for Peace and Justice in Port-au-Prince.

Shepard announced the sale yesterday on obeygiant.com, where the 18×24 screen prints are available for purchase. Please help our efforts in Haiti by buying one!

Huge news: we’re expanding our programs in 2013.

We’re thrilled to announce that this year we will open Artists Institute , the first free college of art and technology in the country’s history. In collaboration with Ciné Institute, Artists for Haiti, and We Are the World Foundation, we’ve been busy planning the school’s construction and developing the programming. We hope that by training talented Haitian youth in vital creative industries such as film, audio engineering and design, the Institute will foster business development and facilitate entrepreneurship.

Stay tuned for more updates and news about the Institute. We’re excited to be offering opportunities to the next generation of Haiti’s leaders — and we want you to be a part of it!

Donate today and join us.