“The Art of Nature,” Re:wild’s Art Basel event brings together the art world to focus on forest conservation

During the annual Art Basel show in Miami Beach, Florida, a private benefit, including an auction, raised more than $2.5 million for forests that are critical to the persistence of biodiversity, and for frontline communities and organizations that work with Re:wild.

The event “Art of Nature: Protecting Irreplaceable Forests” on Dec. 6, featured remarks from Re:wild’s partners, nature-inspired artworks and a plant-based menu. Wes Sechrest, chief executive officer and co-founder of Re:wild, welcomed guests before the program started.

“We often talk about species and ecosystems as distant entities, inhabiting far-off jungles or oceans,” said Sechrest. “Yet, they are all around, and within us as well. Each of us is an ecosystem, home to around 10,000 species that make up more than half of our tens of trillions of cells. Without these symbiotic partners, we would lose not just our own ecosystem, but ourselves. We are nature, inseparable from it, and nature is everything.”

Helena Gualinga, an activist from the Indigenous Kichwa of Sarayaku community in the Ecuadorian Amazon and co-founder of Passu Creative, spoke to guests about her community’s long history of defending their home from oil and mining companies. Re:wild has worked with Gualinga, her sister Nina Gualinga, and other activists on several campaigns to protect Key Biodiversity Areas from extractive industries in Ecuador, Panama and beyond. 

Actor Jamie Foxx was the master of ceremony, assisted in the auction by Soleil Moon Frye. The auction included trips to biodiversity hotspots and incredible art by talented contemporary artists. Re:wild’s co-founder, Leonardo DiCaprio, also attended and co-hosted the event.

The event was co-hosted by Flex, a leading financial technology company focused on helping owners grow their business, and produced by the Silhouette Group, a luxury event and travel curation company that produces globally recognized experiences around the world.

“It isn’t immediately obvious how our wildlife and private sector are so interconnected,” said Zaid Rahman, founder of Flex. “Through our relationship with Re:wild, we’re making a statement: true innovation comes from aligning with the natural world, not against it.”

The night included plant-based dishes from Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and Michelin-starred Le Jardinier in Miami, expertly curated by The Bastion Collection.

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Re:wild 
Re:wild protects and restores the wild. We have a singular and powerful focus: the wild as the most effective solution to the interconnected climate, biodiversity and human wellbeing crises. Founded by a group of renowned conservation scientists together with Leonardo DiCaprio, Re:wild is a force multiplier that brings together Indigenous peoples, local communities, influential leaders, nongovernmental organizations, governments, companies and the public to protect and rewild at the scale and speed we need. Learn more at rewild.org.

Flex
Flex is a finance super app for business owners — reimagining every single aspect of the financial workflow and financial services for entrepreneurs. By streamlining the back office, owners at Flex spend more time building. Learn more at Flex.one.