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Two bidders with pencils writing bids on the bid sheet for Dana Ellyn's painting Angela at the 2014 Transformer auction — 2014 · Two bidders reach for the bid sheet for Angela at the same time.

Transformer · Washington, DC · 2007 – 2019

13 Transformer Auctions

One piece of art donated every year for thirteen years. Three times, the bids ran off the bid sheet and onto the wall.

Transformer is an artist-centered visual arts nonprofit at 1404 P Street NW in Washington, DC. Each fall it holds a silent auction and benefit party, and the proceeds support Transformer’s artists, exhibitions and programs.

Dana Ellyn donated a piece of art to the auction every year from 2007 to 2019, the 4th through the 16th annual auctions. In 2014, 2018 and 2019, the bid sheet beside her painting filled before bidding closed, and bidders started writing their bids directly on the wall.

Event: Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party, held each year
Organizer: Transformer, 1404 P St NW, Washington, DC · transformerdc.org
Years: 2007 – 2019 · 4th through 16th annual auctions
Venues: Halcyon House · Mexican Cultural Institute · Corcoran Gallery of Art · American University’s Katzen Arts Center · Corcoran School of the Arts & Design
The work: 13 pieces, one each year
Bids on the wall: 2014 · 2018 · 2019

When the bid sheet ran out

2014 · 2018 · 2019

At a Transformer auction, each artwork hangs with a paper bid sheet. Bidders write their bid number and amount on the next open line, and the last bid on the sheet when the lot closes wins.

Three times, the sheet beside Dana Ellyn’s painting ran out of lines before the lot closed. With time running out, bidders kept writing their bids on the gallery wall under the painting.

2014 · Angela

Bids written in pencil on the white gallery wall below Dana Ellyn's painting Angela at the 2014 Transformer auction — Bids in pencil on the wall below Angela.

Handwritten bids continuing down the gallery wall at the 2014 Transformer auction — The bids continue down the wall.

Guests crowded in front of Dana Ellyn's painting Angela at the 2014 Transformer auction — The crowd at Angela.

2018 · Sanctuary

Video · Bidders writing on the sheet and the wall under Sanctuary (50 seconds).

Video · One more bid on the wall (9 seconds).

The paper bid sheet and handwritten bids on the wall below Dana Ellyn's painting Sanctuary at the 2018 Transformer auction — The bid sheet, and the bids that kept going.

2019 · Plant Based Nude

Guests crowding around and writing bids beside Dana Ellyn's painting Plant Based Nude at the 2019 Transformer auction — Bidders crowding Plant Based Nude.

Video of the 2019 bidding coming soon

A woman in a red dress standing beside Dana Ellyn's painting Plant Based Nude at the 2019 Transformer auction — With Plant Based Nude.

All 13 at a glance

Tap a year to jump to it

Annunciation (of the Bird Flu), oil on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, an angel and gull above a woman reading, 30 x 40 inches

Annunciation (of the Bird Flu)

Paddle Boy, oil on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a man in a black sweater holding a paddle ball on pink, 24 x 36 inches

Pouring (Sangria) on the Bull, oil on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a woman on a bull pouring sangria, 30 x 40 inches

Pouring (Sangria) on the Bull

Three Ring (Media) Circus, oil on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, circus performers and a bull in three rings, 30 x 40 inches

Three Ring (Media) Circus

Stage Fright, etching on scratchboard by Dana Ellyn, a jester in a striped costume on a dark stage, 8.5 x 11 inches

Dia de los Muertos, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a woman in red on a sofa beside a skeleton, 22 x 39 inches

Dia de los Muertos

The Matador, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a matador bent over with banderillas in his back, 18 x 21 inches

Angela, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a woman with a blue afro raising her fist, 18 x 24 inches

Spectacle, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, two boxers trading punches before a crowd, 32 x 44 inches

Bacon?, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a small dog wearing a pink pig hat, 30 x 30 inches

Tea & Biscuits, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a nude woman and a boxer dog at a tea table, 24 x 30 inches

Sanctuary, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a nude woman on a red sofa beneath a rooster portrait, 27 x 32 inches

Plant Based Nude, oil on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a nude woman in a yellow room with plants, 30 x 24 inches

Plant Based Nude

Annunciation (of the Bird Flu), oil on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, an angel and gull above a woman reading, 30 x 40 inches — Annunciation (of the Bird Flu) · 30" × 40" · oil on canvas

2007

4th Annual · Halcyon House

Date: Saturday, November 17, 2007
Venue: Halcyon House, in sculptor John Dreyfuss’ studio, 34th and Prospect Streets NW
Painting: Annunciation (of the Bird Flu)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 30" × 40"

With Annunciation (of the Bird Flu) on the wall, 4th annual Transformer auction, Halcyon House, 2007 — With Annunciation (of the Bird Flu) on the wall

The crowd at Halcyon House, 4th annual Transformer auction, Halcyon House, 2007 — The crowd at Halcyon House

Salon-style walls, 4th annual Transformer auction, Halcyon House, 2007 — Salon-style walls

Dancing at the party, 4th annual Transformer auction, Halcyon House, 2007 — Dancing at the party

At the party, 4th annual Transformer auction, Halcyon House, 2007 — At the party

Paddle Boy, oil on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a man in a black sweater holding a paddle ball on pink, 24 x 36 inches — Paddle Boy · 24" × 36" · oil on canvas

2008

5th Annual · Halcyon House

Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008
Venue: Halcyon House, in sculptor John Dreyfuss’ studio, 34th and Prospect Streets NW
Painting: Paddle Boy
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 24" × 36"

With Paddle Boy, 5th annual Transformer auction, Halcyon House, 2008 — With Paddle Boy

Paddle Boy on the wall, 5th annual Transformer auction, Halcyon House, 2008 — Paddle Boy with muse, Matt Sesow

The crowd at Halcyon House, 5th annual Transformer auction, Halcyon House, 2008 — The crowd at Halcyon House

At the party, 5th annual Transformer auction, Halcyon House, 2008 — At the party

At the party, 5th annual Transformer auction, Halcyon House, 2008 — At the party (with Anna U. Davis and Andrew Wodzianski)

Pouring (Sangria) on the Bull, oil on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a woman on a bull pouring sangria, 30 x 40 inches — Pouring (Sangria) on the Bull · 30" × 40" · oil on canvas

2009

6th Annual · Mexican Cultural Institute

Date: 2009
Venue: The Mexican Cultural Institute
Painting: Pouring (Sangria) on the Bull
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 30" × 40"

Pouring (Sangria) on the Bull on the wall behind the group, 6th annual Transformer auction, Mexican Cultural Institute, 2009 — Pouring (Sangria) on the Bull on the wall behind the group

More photos from 2009 coming soon

Three Ring (Media) Circus, oil on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, circus performers and a bull in three rings, 30 x 40 inches — Three Ring (Media) Circus · 30" × 40" · oil on canvas

2010

7th Annual · Mexican Cultural Institute

Date: Saturday, November 13, 2010
Venue: The Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th Street NW
Painting: Three Ring (Media) Circus
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 30" × 40"

Cover of the 2010 Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party catalog, 7th annual — 2010 catalog

Dana Ellyn's entry for Three Ring (Media) Circus in the 2010 Transformer auction catalog — Catalog entry

The crowd at the Mexican Cultural Institute, 7th annual Transformer auction, Mexican Cultural Institute, 2010 — The crowd at the Mexican Cultural Institute

At the party, 7th annual Transformer auction, Mexican Cultural Institute, 2010 — Sesow and Ellyn at the party

At the party, 7th annual Transformer auction, Mexican Cultural Institute, 2010 — At the party

More photos from 2010 coming soon

Stage Fright, etching on scratchboard by Dana Ellyn, a jester in a striped costume on a dark stage, 8.5 x 11 inches — Stage Fright · 8.5" × 11" · etching on scratchboard (hand etched original)

2011

8th Annual · Corcoran Gallery of Art

Date: Friday, November 18, 2011
Venue: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street NW
Artwork: Stage Fright
Medium: Etching on scratchboard (hand etched original)
Size: 8.5" × 11"

Cover of the 2011 Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party catalog, 8th annual — 2011 catalog

Dana Ellyn's entry for Stage Fright in the 2011 Transformer auction catalog — Catalog entry

At the Corcoran Gallery of Art, 8th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2011 — At the Corcoran Gallery of Art

More photos from 2011 coming soon

Dia de los Muertos, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a woman in red on a sofa beside a skeleton, 22 x 39 inches — Dia de los Muertos · 22" × 39" · acrylic on canvas

2012

9th Annual · Corcoran Gallery of Art

Date: Friday, November 30, 2012
Venue: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street NW
Painting: Dia de los Muertos
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 22" × 39"

Cover of the 2012 Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party catalog, 9th annual — 2012 catalog

Dana Ellyn's entry for Dia de los Muertos in the 2012 Transformer auction catalog — Catalog entry

Dia de los Muertos with its bid sheet, 9th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2012 — Dia de los Muertos with its bid sheet

Dia de los Muertos on the wall, 9th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2012 — Dia de los Muertos on the wall

Looking down on the auction, 9th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2012 — Looking down on the auction

The galleries, 9th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2012 — The galleries

At the party, 9th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2012 — At the party

The Transformer banner in the Corcoran, 9th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2012 — The Transformer banner in the Corcoran

With Dia de los Muertos, 9th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2012 — With Dia de los Muertos

The Matador, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a matador bent over with banderillas in his back, 18 x 21 inches — The Matador · 18" × 21" · acrylic on canvas

2013

10th Annual · Corcoran Gallery of Art

Date: Friday, November 15, 2013
Venue: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street NW
Painting: The Matador
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 18" × 21"

Cover of the 2013 Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party catalog, 10th annual — 2013 catalog

Dana Ellyn's entry for The Matador in the 2013 Transformer auction catalog — Catalog entry

With The Matador, 10th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2013 — With The Matador

The Matador and its bid sheet, 10th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2013 — The Matador and its bid sheet

The Matador on the wall, 10th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2013 — The Matador on the wall

From the balcony, 10th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2013 — From the balcony

“Blue lot closing”, 10th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2013 — “Blue lot closing”

Bid sheets in hand, 10th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2013 — Bid sheets in hand

At the party, 10th annual Transformer auction, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2013 — At the party

Angela, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a woman with a blue afro raising her fist, 18 x 24 inches — Angela · 18" × 24" · acrylic on canvas

2014Bids on the wall

11th Annual · Katzen Arts Center

Date: Saturday, November 22, 2014
Venue: American University’s Katzen Arts Center
Painting: Angela
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 18" × 24"

Cover of the 2014 Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party catalog, 11th annual — 2014 catalog

Dana Ellyn's entry for Angela in the 2014 Transformer auction catalog — Catalog entry

Bids written on the wall under Angela, 11th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2014 — The happy winner of the bidding war

Bids written on the wall under Angela, 11th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2014 — Bids written on the wall under Angela

Bids running past the bid sheet onto the wall, 11th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2014 — Bids running onto 2nd sheet, eventually onto the wall

Transformer’s 2014 auction announcement, with Angela, 11th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2014 — Transformer’s 2014 auction announcement, with Angela

The crowd at Angela, 11th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2014 — The crowd at Angela

Bidding at Angela, 11th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2014 — Bidding at Angela

The crowd at the Katzen Arts Center, 11th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2014 — The crowd at the Katzen Arts Center

Transformer on the Katzen wall, 11th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2014 — Transformer on the Katzen wall

At the party, 11th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2014 — At the party

Spectacle, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, two boxers trading punches before a crowd, 32 x 44 inches — Spectacle · 32" × 44" · acrylic on canvas

2015

12th Annual · Katzen Arts Center

Date: Saturday, November 21, 2015
Venue: American University’s Katzen Arts Center
Painting: Spectacle
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 32" × 44"

Cover of the 2015 Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party catalog, 12th annual — 2015 catalog

Dana Ellyn's entry for Spectacle in the 2015 Transformer auction catalog — Catalog entry

At the party, 12th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2015 — Sesow & Ellyn at the party

The Katzen Arts Center at night, 12th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2015 — The Katzen Arts Center at night

A performer on the stairs, 12th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2015 — A performer on the stairs

At the party, 12th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2015 — At the party

Bacon?, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a small dog wearing a pink pig hat, 30 x 30 inches — Bacon? · 30" × 30" · acrylic on canvas

2016

13th Annual · Katzen Arts Center

Date: Saturday, November 19, 2016
Venue: American University’s Katzen Arts Center
Painting: Bacon?
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 30" × 30"

Cover of the 2016 Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party catalog, 13th annual — 2016 catalog

Dana Ellyn's entry for Bacon? in the 2016 Transformer auction catalog — Catalog entry

Bacon? on the wall, 13th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2016 — Bacon? on the wall

The crowd, 13th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2016 — The crowd

The Katzen rotunda, 13th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2016 — The Katzen rotunda

Transformer in lights, 13th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2016 — Transformer in lights

Tea & Biscuits, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a nude woman and a boxer dog at a tea table, 24 x 30 inches — Tea & Biscuits · 24" × 30" · acrylic on canvas

2017

14th Annual · Katzen Arts Center

Date: Saturday, November 18, 2017
Venue: American University’s Katzen Arts Center
Painting: Tea & Biscuits
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 24" × 30"

Cover of the 2017 Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party catalog, 14th annual — 2017 catalog

Dana Ellyn's entry for Tea & Biscuits in the 2017 Transformer auction catalog — Catalog entry

Looking down the gallery, 14th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2017 — Looking down the gallery

At the party, 14th annual Transformer auction, Katzen Arts Center, 2017 — At the party

More photos from 2017 coming soon

Sanctuary, acrylic on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a nude woman on a red sofa beneath a rooster portrait, 27 x 32 inches — Sanctuary · 27" × 32" · acrylic on canvas

2018Bids on the wall

15th Annual · The Corcoran

Date: Saturday, November 17, 2018
Venue: Corcoran School of the Arts & Design
Painting: Sanctuary
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 27" × 32"

Cover of the 2018 Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party catalog, 15th annual — 2018 catalog

Dana Ellyn's entry for Sanctuary in the 2018 Transformer auction catalog — Catalog entry

Bids written on the wall below Sanctuary, 15th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2018 — Bids written on the wall below Sanctuary

The bid sheet, and the bids that kept going, 15th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2018 — The bid sheet, and the bids that kept going

Sanctuary above the crowd, 15th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2018 — The winning bidder embracing Dana

Sanctuary in the background, 15th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2018 — Sanctuary in the background

Next to Sanctuary, 15th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2018 — Next to Sanctuary

Transformer at the Corcoran, 15th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2018 — Transformer at the Corcoran

#transformerauction2018, 15th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2018 — #transformerauction2018

At the party, 15th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2018 — The happy winning bidder

At the party, 15th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2018 — Winning bidder and the runner up with Dana

Plant Based Nude, oil on canvas painting by Dana Ellyn, a nude woman in a yellow room with plants, 30 x 24 inches — Plant Based Nude · 30" × 24" · oil on canvas

2019Bids on the wall

16th Annual · The Corcoran

Date: Saturday, October 26, 2019
Venue: Corcoran School of the Arts & Design
Painting: Plant Based Nude
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 30" × 24"

Cover of the 2019 Transformer Silent Auction & Benefit Party catalog, 16th annual — 2019 catalog

Dana Ellyn's entry for Plant Based Nude in the 2019 Transformer auction catalog — Catalog entry

With Plant Based Nude, 16th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2019 — With Plant Based Nude

Bidders crowding Plant Based Nude, 16th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2019 — Bidders crowding Plant Based Nude

The crowd along the wall, 16th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2019 — The crowd along the wall

Outside the Corcoran, 16th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2019 — Outside the Corcoran

The lighted staircase, 16th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2019 — The lighted staircase

The crowd, 16th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2019 — The crowd

The Lot 2 wall, with Plant Based Nude at lower left, 16th annual Transformer auction, The Corcoran, 2019 — The Lot 2 wall, with Plant Based Nude at lower left

Elsewhere

More from Dana Ellyn

Transformer auction history → Dana Ellyn — life & work → Press archive by year → New paintings →