A 2017 portrait of Kendrick Lamar by famed photographer Mark Seliger is being auctioned off for COVID-19 relief efforts. The photo was taken during Lamar’s DAMN tour and the proceeds will go toward One Family LA, which Lamar picked out himself.
“Kendrick is a true artist, he never turns off. When we took this, he performed at the Barclays Center, then went to his studio to record, finished at dawn, and then came to my studio,” Seliger told Complex. “From there, he was super present and engaged during the shoot the entire time. We edited the film together with a mutual respect to my opinion and his. Then he jumped on a plane again—like a true poet, he lifted my hands and went to the next town.”
Seliger is also auctioning off other portraits of his celebrity clients — such as Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah, Barack Obama and more — with 100 percent of the profits going toward a charity of their choice. The charity auction is part of his global fundraising and advocacy campaign RADArt4Aid, in partnership with Red Carpet Advocacy.
“My career has been built on connecting with and understanding people and their stories with the desire to represent them in a way that is authentic and, in some cases, a bit fantastic. My team and I have curated a special group of prints for this auction that illustrate some of my favorite subjects and moments from the last 30 years,” he explained. “Art and creativity as a source of love, introspection and joy have persevered through every tragedy we’ve faced together, and I trust they will continue to inspire us as we work through this pandemic. Thank you to everyone who contributes to making this auction a success; in doing so, you will have a significant impact in helping those in need.”
The auction launched today (May 28) and will continue through June 12. See Kendrick’s — and others’ — portraits here.