NEW YORK ACADEMY OF ART HONORS WALTER ROBINSON WITH 2025 “TAKE HOME A NUDE” AT PHILLIPS
The New York Academy of Art will celebrate the life and legacy of the late Walter Robinson with its 2025 edition of “Take Home a Nude,” the Academy’s storied art auction and benefit, held this year at Phillips on December 15, 2025. The evening will unfold at 432 Park Avenue with a festive cocktail reception, followed by both live and silent auctions—an annual convergence of artists, collectors, and patrons that reflects the spirit of generosity and community Robinson championed.
A prolific painter, critic, and editor, Robinson (1950–2025) spent more than five decades at the heart of downtown culture. A pioneering member of the Pictures Generation, he carved out a singular place within Neo-Pop, transforming mass-media imagery into lush, psychologically charged paintings. His legacy anchors this year’s benefit, which includes a special tribute recognizing his multifaceted contributions to the Academy and the city’s artistic landscape.
The evening’s auctions will feature an impressive sweep of contemporary voices—from rising talents to internationally renowned artists. Works by Deborah Kass, Robert Longo, Marilyn Minter, Jamie Nares, Richard Prince, David Salle, and Kenny Scharf will be offered alongside pieces by The Untitled Space’s Indira Cesarine and Martha Zmpounou, underscoring the depth and diversity of this year’s roster.
Bidding is now open online and continues in person on December 15, offering collectors a prime opportunity to secure standout artworks for the holidays while supporting the Academy’s scholarship and public-programming initiatives. Those unable to attend the live event may still participate via proxy bidding.
View the full auction and bid here: https://aesbid.net/NYAA25/
This celebrated annual event brings together leading contemporary artists—from Academy alumni to blue-chip contributors—and offers collectors a rare chance to acquire exceptional works while directly championing the next generation of figurative artists.
WALTER ROBINSON’S NEW YORK
Robinson’s story mirrors the arc of New York’s contemporary art scene. Emerging in the 1980s as both artist and cultural instigator, he debuted his distinctive canvases at Metro Pictures while co-founding the cult publication Art-Rite and shaping early discourse around contemporary art. A founding member and former president of COLAB, he participated in the seminal 1980 “Times Square Show,” and later helped establish Printed Matter, Inc., alongside artists including Sol LeWitt and Pat Steir.
As Editor-in-Chief of Artnet Magazine, Robinson became an essential critical voice, combining sharp analysis with wry humor at a moment when art writing was rapidly transitioning into the digital space. In recent years, he experienced a renewed wave of recognition, with widely noted exhibitions at Illinois State University, Moore College of Art, Jeffrey Deitch Gallery, and Vito Schnabel Gallery.
In advance of the auction, the Academy hosted a public program on November 20 featuring journalist Carlo McCormick in conversation with artists Jane Dixon and Kate Shepherd—an exploration of Robinson’s influence across generations and disciplines.
Founded in 1982 by a group of artists that included Andy Warhol, the New York Academy of Art remains dedicated to rigorous training in figurative and representational art, fostering critical discourse and ambitious public programming. With its blend of scholarship, creativity, and community, the Academy offers an especially fitting platform to honor an artist whose work—and humor—shaped the fabric of contemporary art in New York.
On December 15, as collectors and supporters gather at Phillips, “Take Home a Nude” will stand not only as one of the season’s most anticipated art events but also as a collective tribute to a downtown icon whose legacy continues to radiate through the artists he influenced and the institutions he helped define.
Learn more and pick up your tickets at https://nyaa.edu/nude/
