Auction

Gala 2011 will feature amazing live and silent auction items, including wonderful travel packages, superb pieces of jewelry, and the opportunity to support the Scholarship Fund.

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Auctioneer: Alexander Mark Heming Gilkes

Alexander Gilkes was born in England and educated at Eton College and Bristol University, where he graduated with joint honors in Russian and Spanish, specializing in Soviet Cultural Politics. While at university, Alexander balanced his creative and business interests with varying internships for UBS Warburg, Lazard, Cazenove and then work with Mario Testino and Stanley Kubrick. Soon after graduation, Alexander joined a boutique Venture Capital Firm, specializing in Russia's emerging technology sector. His deep passion for luxury and creativity soon got hold of him and he left the finance sector to follow his heart in pursuit of an influential role in the luxury sector where he became a recognized tastemaker for Krug Champagne.

Deciding to follow an ambition to explore his fascination with the art world, he move to New York and joined Simon de Pury, who recognized in him the ability to bring his sensitive vision and brand-building expertise to his auction house, Phillips de Pury. He was appointed Marketing Director and auctioneering protégé. Phillips de Pury today belongs to Russia's leading luxury player, The Mercury Group.

Alexander is currently co-founding an online art market focusing on the tastes of cultural influencers, called Paddle8.com, launching in spring 2011 with a series of curated online exhibitions. Paddle8 provides a beautiful online platform community that enables collectors to acquire artworks free of time and geographical constraints, and seek the validation of their peers.

Alexander has lived in Chile, Russia, France, UK and Spain, and now considers New York home.