Renowned photographer Mark Seliger has reached into the archives to showcase a portrait of Kendrick Lamar for a good cause. The photograph, taken in 2017 while Kendrick was on tour for his critically acclaimed album Damn, will be auctioned off for charity.
"Kendrick is a true artist, he never turns off. When we took this, he performed at the Barclays Center, then went to his studio to record, finished at dawn, and then came to my studio," Seliger told Complex of the experience working with Kendrick. "From there, he was super present and engaged during the shoot the entire time. We edited the film together with a mutual respect to my opinion and his. Then he jumped on a plane again—like a true poet, he lifted my hands and went to the next town."
The charity auction of Kendrick Lamar's portrait (seen above) is a part of RADArt4Aid, a global fundraising and advocacy campaign created by Mark Seliger Studio, Christie's, and RAD (Red Carpet Advocacy). 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the subject's charity of choice to raise funds and awareness for COVID-19 relief organizations. Kendrick has chosen to donate funds raised by his portrait to One Family LA.
"My career has been built on connecting with and understanding people and their stories with the desire to represent them in a way that is authentic and, in some cases, a bit fantastic. My team and I have curated a special group of prints for this auction that illustrate some of my favorite subjects and moments from the last 30 years," Seliger said. "Art and creativity as a source of love, introspection, and joy have persevered through every tragedy we’ve faced together, and I trust they will continue to inspire us as we work through this pandemic. Thank you to everyone who contributes to making this auction a success; in doing so, you will have a significant impact in helping those in need."
25 other notable figures are featured in the portrait charity auction, including Dr. Dre, Jennifer Lopez, Billie Eilish, Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah, Barack Obama, and Jerry Seinfeld, among others.
The auction begins May 28 and runs until June 12 through Christie's, with all bidding taking place online. For more information and to view the full collection, visit here.
