October 2026 marks the 10-year anniversary of Migrate Art’s first artwork sale — Julian Opie’s Bobby and Natalie.1. The work was realised at a hammer price of £47,500, and the sale supported relief work tackling the refugee crisis in Europe. Opie's generous donation gave us early impetus to begin our journey in bridging contemporary art and the charity sector. Today, we continue our work with the same core mission and at the 10-year mark, celebrate having raised over £2.2 million in support of more than 250,000 people across the world.
To celebrate, Migrate Art is pleased to announce a fundraising exhibition 10 Years to mark a decade of art with purpose. The exhibition will open with a private view on Friday 13 November 2026 at SETAREH (W1K 3PA), 6–9pm and run until Sunday 15 November 2026. Featuring artwork by Antony Gormley, Billy Childish, Caroline Walker, Guerrilla Girls, Jules de Balincourt, Mona Hatoum, Ralph Steadman, Richard Long and Sarah Lucas.
Julian Opie, Bobby and Natalie.1 (2016), Christie's lot 284, 7th October 2016
Over the past ten years Migrate Art has supported projects across four continents, from the Calais Jungle in France to the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. Our collaborators, some of the most well-known artists of the twenty-first century, have been an integral part of these projects; as of 2026 we have collaborated with over 80 artists, who in their generosity and conviction for social change, continue to support our global mission.
A cartographic guide to projects realised by Migrate Art (2016-2026)
Below we highlight three of Migrate Art's most ambitious projects, from Multicolour (France) to From the Ashes (Brazil).
Multicolour (2018-19)
Multicolour was the product of over 30 artists who created works using pencils salvaged from the Calais Refugee Camp after it was demolished in 2016. The artworks were exhibited in London’s Cork Street Galleries in 2019 and then auctioned as part of Phillips’ ‘New Now’ sale.
Total raised: £190,000
Charities supported: Refugee Community Kitchen, RefuAid, The Lotus Flower, The Worldwide Tribe
Artists: Idris Khan, Sean Scully, Rachel Whiteread, Conor Harrington, Annie Kevans, Kevin Francis Gray, Michael Craig-Martin, Annie Morris, Yahon Chang, Paolo Pivi, Swoon, Zhang Huan, Chantal Joffe, Sara Shamma, Ron Arad, Anish Kapoor, Robert Montgomery, Gary Hume, The Connor Brothers, Jonathan Yeo, Richard Woods, Edmund de Waal, Nari Ward, Maggi Hambling, Richard Deacon, Pejac, Raqib Shaw, Keith Coventry, Mark Wallinger, Conrad Shawcross
A sign at Palais Jungle, France, designating where a camp school once stood.
Migrate Art founder, Simon Butler, at the Mulitcolour exhibition on Cork Street Galleries, London.
Exhibition view, Mulitcolour, Cork Street Galleries, London.
Scorched Earth (2019-20)
In 2019, Migrate Art founder Simon Butler visited refugee camps in Iraqi Kurdistan. The region had faced deliberate destruction of hundreds of thousands of acres of crops following devastating fires attributed to organised militia groups. Simon collected ash from the scorched Kurdish land and brought it back to London, collaborating with Jackson's Art Supplies to produce paint using the ash as a pigment. He then distributed this to artists who created original artworks. The exhibition was held at Cork Street Galleries and the featured artworks were sold by Christie’s.
Total raised: £750,000
Charities supported: Refugee Community Kitchen, RefuAid, The Lotus Flower
Artists: Jules de Balincourt, Antony Gormley, Jason Martin, Loie Hollowell, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Anish Kapoor, Raqib Shaw, Piers Secunda, Conor Harrington, Rachel Whiteread, Richard Deacon, Yahon Chang, Richard Long, Walid Siti, Mona Hatoum
Simon Butler leading a workshop in Iraqi Kurdistan in collaboration with The Lotus Flower.
Simon Butler collecting ash from the scorched land in preparation for art materials.
Exhibition view, Scorched Earth, Cork Street Galleries, London.
From the Ashes (2022-24)
Migrate Art founder Simon Butler spent three weeks with an Indigenous Xingu community in the Amazon Rainforest, who had been deeply affected by deforestation and climate change within their home. Simon collected ashes from the burnt areas of the Amazon rainforest and in collaboration with Jackson's Art Supplies, Unison Colour and Cranfield Colours, manufactured artist’s kits using the ash and charcoal to create paint, ink, pigment and pastels. A range of contemporary artists were invited to create works of art with these same materials; the funds raised from art sales were donated to the Xingu community as they continue to fight against illegal deforestation.
Total raised: £350,000
Charities supported: People’s Palace Projects
Artists: Julie Curtiss, Loie Hollowell, María Berrío, Robert Longo, Sarah Ball, Tacita Dean, Richard Long, Idris Khan, Cornelia Parker, Tony Bevan, Michel Mouffe, John Kørner, Harminder Judge, Antonio Tarsis, Nigel Cooke, Piers Secunda, Gokula Stoffel, Samuel de Saboia, Shezad Dawood, Tal R, Gokula Stoffel, Richard Woods, Glenys Johnson, André Griffo, Mary Mattingly, Alfie Caine, Simon Butler, Aislan Pankararu, Stanley Donwood, Kamo Waura, of the Upper Xingu territory, Indigenous artisans of the Upper Xingu Territory
Documentation image of a Xingu community in the Amazon Rainforest.
Artist’s kits manufactured by Jackson's Art Supplies, Unison Colour and Cranfield Colours from the collected ash and charcoal.
Exhibition view, From the Ashes, The Truman Brewery, London.
The past 10 years have been a challenging time for many communities across the globe. The lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts and the acceleration of the climate crisis have worsened global social equality. Addressing these issues is critical in tackling the rise of poverty and polarisation both in the UK and globally. Since 2016, Migrate Art has worked with a network of international charity partners to ensure the funds we raise are used in the most effective, impactful way possible.
We'd like to extend our gratitude to all the artists, partners and friends for their unwavering generosity and support. We’re immensely grateful for what we’ve been able to achieve together and remain excited for the chapter ahead.
To keep up to date with the latest at Migrate Art, join our newsletter by clicking here