A lucky art enthusiast in Paris was thrilled to discover on Tuesday that he had won a Pablo Picasso painting valued at over $1 million in a raffle. Ari Hodara, aged 58, expressed his disbelief and cautious optimism upon receiving the call from organizers at Christie’s auction house in Paris confirming his win.
Hodara, who described himself as an art lover with a particular fondness for Picasso, purchased his raffle ticket unexpectedly while dining at a restaurant over the weekend. He shared his plans to inform his wife, who was still at work, about the exciting news and mentioned his intention to initially keep the painting.
The artwork at the center of the “1 Picasso for 100 euros” lottery was Picasso’s Head of a Woman, a 1941 gouache-on-paper portrait of the artist’s muse and partner, Dora Maar. The raffle, which required a 100 euro ticket purchase (approximately $162), aimed to support Alzheimer’s research efforts.
The online draw provided participants with the opportunity to win a painting by the renowned Spanish artist while contributing to a noble cause. The raffle successfully sold all 120,000 tickets globally, generating 12 million euros ($19.5 million) in proceeds. Out of this amount, one million euros will be directed to the Opera Gallery, an international art dealership that originally owned the painting.
Gilles Dyan, the founder of the gallery, disclosed that a discounted price was extended for the artwork, which would have been publicly priced at 1.45 million euros ($2.35 million). This initiative marked the third edition of the charity raffle series, following previous successful events that raised substantial funds for cultural projects in Lebanon and humanitarian efforts in Africa.
The Picasso raffle tradition, initiated in 2013, has seen winners from various professions and backgrounds, each experiencing the thrill of owning a valuable piece of art while contributing to charitable causes. The generous support from participants worldwide has enabled the Alzheimer Research Foundation, the driving force behind the raffles, to emerge as a significant funder of Alzheimer-related medical research in France since its establishment in 2004.
