Lawrence Arts Center auction raises more than $150,000

The Lawrence Arts Center sold more than $105,700 worth of art Saturday at its 31st annual benefit art auction, beating last year’s total by more than $30,000. Combining art purchases, donations, a W.T. Kemper Foundation challenge grant, ticket purchases and a sponsorship, the event raised more than $150,000.

Last year, buyers paid about $70,000 for art, and the benefit raised about $95,000 total.

Buyers last year paid 84 percent of the artists’ listed retail price, but this year buyers paid 92 percent. Executive director Susan Tate said that it was a significant jump and a positive outcome in a show that had fewer pieces than previous years.

“It’s a good indicator of how enthusiastically people are purchasing art,” Tate said.

More than 130 artists donated more than 140 pieces for the auction, which Tate said was one of the highest-grossing of recent auctions.