The T.J. Martell Foundation (www.tjmartell.org) has announced that the third annual “Artworks for The Cure,” a highly popular and successful three-day benefit exhibition, auction and sale of contemporary art, will be presented Friday thru Sunday, October 11th-13th at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport.

“Artworks for The Cure” is a contemporary offbeat, eclectic and sometimes irreverent charity art show that features the work, from studio to street, of over 125 painters, sculptors, photographers and mixed media artists from around the globe. It has shown strong appeal to both adventurous collectors and beginning and curious art fans.The scope of artists ranges from Tom Leighton and Lluís Barba, whose works have been seen at Art Basel Miami and in international galleries and museums to highly prominent street artists to brilliant young painters.

See image: Desire Obtain Cherish, “Marilyn Killed Norma Jean” © Desire Obtain Cherish

Exhibiting at the show will be some of the featured artists from MOCA’s enormously successful Art In The Streets exhibit including Shepard Fairey, Mister Cartoon, who is also providing a display of low-rider cars he has painted, Estevan Oriol, RISK, and Todd James. There will be a strong additional emphasis on street art through the curation services of Iskander Lemseffer, owner of Lab Art, the largest street art gallery in the nation.

Representing other genres will be Minjae Lee, a South Korean artist recently named by Art Business News as one of the “Top 30 Under Thirty Young Artists Revolutionizing the World of Fine Art.” Nathan Sawaya, whose lego sculptures have been exhibited internationally will have his work shown and for sale as will Desire Obtain Cherish, whose work was named by Art Info as one of the “50 Greatest Hits from Miami’s 2012 Art Fair Extravaganza”, and Herb Williams, a Nashville artist, whose sculptures are composed of crayons.

See image: Neil Haddon, “Back Burn (A New Beginning)” © Neil Haddon

The visual work of many well-known music artists will also be on display including Brandon Boyd, Leonard Cohen, Ed O’Brien, Yoko Ono and more. Noted rock photographer Danny Clinch is curating the music photography section that includes work by him as well as Noah Abrams, Jerome Brunet, Henry Diltz, Timothy White, Baron Wolman and others.

A new feature this year is the Board Room celebrating the Southern California lifestyle with a brightly colored display of painted surf, skate and snowboards. Another is a display of graffiti art from photos of the Berlin Wall by photographer Hermann Waldenburg from his book The Berlin Wall. A highlight of the show may well turn out to be the Tagging Wall where those attending get to try their hand at tagging the street photography of noted and multi-published NYC photographer Hank O’Neal.

On opening night, Friday, October 11th, guests get to mingle with many of the artists represented at the VIP Meet the Artists Reception that also includes a Red Carpet, celebrity DJ, live music and hors d’oeuvres.

Saturday evening is the Spirit Of Excellence Dinner where the Foundation presents awards to its Honorees. In addition to the presentations, there will be a cocktail reception and dinner, a special musical performance by multi-platinum Republic Records recording artist Colbie Caillat and live and silent auctions. This year’s Honorees include the CEO and Founder of Spotify, Daniel Ek; Atom Factory Founder/CEO and Lady Gaga’s manager, Troy Carter; Universal Music Group’s President of Global Digital Business, Rob Wells; and Managing Partner House of An and Founder of An Catering and Tiato restaurant, Catherine An.

See image: Justin Bua, “1981” © BUA Inc.

On Sunday afternoon, the event continues with the art auction, a celebrity DJ, wine, beer and gourmet food trucks. Presenting Sponsors of Artworks For the Cure are American Airlines and the Universal Music Group.

“Artworks For the Cure” benefits the T.J. Martell Foundation to continue its funding of innovative cancer research at twelve top research hospitals in the United States. In Los Angeles, the Foundation funds pediatric cancer and leukemia research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

The event is open to the public. Tickets may be purchased online at: www.2013artworks.org or by calling 310-449-7627.

Friday, October 11, 7-10 pm reception; Saturday, October 12th at 6PM Dinner; Sunday, October 13th, NOON-5PM Final Auction.

Additional information on the Awards dinner and tax-deductible donations can be found on the website.