Vancouver, BC, May 14, 2024 – A 1993 photo of Kurt Cobain’s hand sold at a Vancouver auction for $75,000, a record for Michael Stipe’s photographic work. A canvas oil painting titled Northwest Passage also set an auction record for Douglas Coupland at $150,000. The funds raised were in support of the non-profit organisation, Capture Photography Festival. Stipe, now a well-known photographer since the dissolution of his band REM in 2011, was in attendance and pleased to support Capture.
Emmy Lee Wall, Capture’s Executive Director and Chief Curator stated, “We are immensely honoured to have auctioned two incredible works at Saturday’s event, raising significant funds for Capture Photography Festival which will ensure we are able to continue providing a platform for lens-based artists. We are deeply indebted to both Michael and Doug for their support of Capture.”
Launched in 2013, Capture Photography Festival is Western Canada’s largest lens-based art festival. Annually in April, lens-based art is exhibited at dozens of galleries and other venues throughout Metro Vancouver as part of the Exhibition Program, alongside an extensive Public Art Program, an Events Program that spans tours, films, artist talks, and community events as well as an educational partnership with Emily Carr University. Capture’s vision is to connect Vancouver to the world through lens-based art.
Michael Stipe, Kurt, 1993
Douglas Coupland, Northwest Passage, 2024
Photo by: Keagan Archer-Hastie
