Inside Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre’s Exclusive Art Auction in a Private L.A. Skating Rink

The star-studded event sold artwork to benefit a Los Angeles school founded by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine.

A woman in a red dress and a man in black sit on white couches at an auction
English model Liberty Ross and Interscope Records cofounder Jimmy Iovine. Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine

At the start of Frieze in Los Angeles, the much-anticipated week of contemporary art fairs and events in L.A., a special auction took place at the personal home skating rink of Jimmy Iovine, cofounder of Interscope Records, and his wife, English model Liberty Ross.

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The star-studded event, which raised $2.48 million for the Iovine and Young Center, a magnet school for high schoolers preparing for careers in design, technology and entrepreneurship, was co-hosted by Sotheby's, the school founders Iovine and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young, as well as gallerist David Kordansky and Josh Abraham, co-CEO of Pulse Music Group. 

“When Josh approached me with the idea of teaming up with him and David Kordansky to host an auction for the Iovine and Young Center, I immediately knew we had all the right ingredients to create an unrivaled celebration of art and music,” Jacqueline Wachter, Sotheby’s vice chairman of private sales, said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: Beyond Frieze: An Insider’s Guide to What’s On in the Los Angeles Art Scene

The auction united the worlds of art, music, media and philanthropy during an already packed art week: Ed Ruscha, Benny Blanco, Katie Couric, Brian Grazer, Bob Geldof, Joel Madden, Troy Carter and Rich Paul were among the notable attendees.

Entertainer James Corden and auctioneer Kimberly Pirtle charmed the room of buyers, who sat on scattered white couches while bidding on the art and sipping cans of ‘Gin & Juice,’ Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre’s newly launched line of pre-mixed cocktails named after the hit single of Snoop Dogg’s debut album, Doggystyle. The special evening concluded with performances by R&B singers Timbaland and Andra Day.

Artworks sold, courtesy of the artists and David Kordansky Gallery, included Rashid Johnson’s Untitled Seascape Drawing (2022), which had a $300,000 high estimate (the sale price wasn’t disclosed), and Hilary Pecis’s Record Collection (2024), which sold for $700,000, seven times its low estimate, headlining the auction. Noah Davis’ Untitled (2015) sold for $42,000, a surprising 100 percent above its low estimate.

Hilary Pecis's Record Collection (2024)
Hilary Pecis’s ‘Record Collection’ (2024). Courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery

“Coming together with David Kordansky was the perfect fit—once David got involved, he brought together his community of leading artists and tapped into Sotheby’s, which shares our mission,” Josh Abraham, co-CEO of Pulse Music Group, said in a statement. “This is an instance where all the right people and ethos aligned.”

R&B singer and record producer Timbaland

Timbaland performs onstage during Iovine and Young Center for High School Education Benefit Auction hosted by Sotheby's at Private Residence on February 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine

Auctioneer Kimberly Pirtle

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Kimberly Pirtle speaks onstage during Iovine and Young Center for High School Education Benefit Auction hosted by Sotheby's at Private Residence on February 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine)
Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine

Talent manager Troy Carter

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Troy Carter attends Iovine and Young Center for High School Education Benefit Auction hosted by Sotheby's at Private Residence on February 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine)
Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine

Sports agent Rich Paul with Jackie Wachter, VP of Private Sales, Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Rich Paul and Jackie Wachter attend Iovine and Young Center for High School Education Benefit Auction hosted by Sotheby's at Private Residence on February 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine)
Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine

R&B and Soul artist Andra Day

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Andra Day performs onstage during Iovine and Young Center for High School Education Benefit Auction hosted by Sotheby's at Private Residence on February 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine)
Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine

Record producer Benny Blanco

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Benny Blanco attends Iovine and Young Center for High School Education Benefit Auction hosted by Sotheby's at Private Residence on February 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine)
Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine

Host James Corden

Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine

Jimmy Iovine and Bob Geldof

Jimmy Iovine and Bob Geldof
Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine

Katie Couric and John Molner

Katie Couric and John Molner
Getty Images for Jimmy Iovine

Inside Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre’s Exclusive Art Auction in a Private L.A. Skating Rink