OCMA auction sets record

The Orange County Museum of Art’s 50th anniversary Art Auction, held earlier this month, netted a record $430,000 to benefit the Newport Beach institution’s educational and exhibition programs, OCMA officials announced in a news release.

Approximately 155 people showed up for the Feb. 11 auction at the museum near Fashion Island, raising $130,000 more than the goal that OCMA had set for this year’s fundraiser.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the museum put 50 works of art on the live and silent auction blocks.

According to museum spokeswoman Kirsten Schmidt, 34 of the 50 lots were sold, with Richard Jackson’s piece, “Complementary Colors Face-to-Face (Blue/Orange)” being auctioned off at $100,000.

Jackson’s work was the highest selling piece.

“Untitled XVII,” a monotype by Richard Diebenkorn — whose “Ocean Park Series” of paintings will be exhibited at OCMA starting Sunday — was listed at a fair market value of $150,000, but did not sell at auction.

—Imran Vittachi