Basil Alkazzi Archive

Philanthropy

Basil Alkazzi’s commitment to philanthropy and care was not incidental - it is a defining and enduring part of his legacy. Throughout his life, Alkazzi supported emerging artists, the cultural sector, and individuals with complex care needs. He established numerous foundations and awards, funded scholarships, and made significant donations to leading institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum.

Basil Alkazzi chose to leave his artistic estate in support of charitable causes. In accordance with his express wishes, the estate directs proceeds from the sale of his artworks towards supporting people with autism in residential care. In this way, the Estate operates not only as a guardian of Alkazzi’s work, but as a means of carrying forward his values in practice.

We live in a fast moving culture that grows increasingly more abstract, away from the physical touch, away from the physical ground of being - away from the act of creation by hand. I want, in my own way, to encourage the glorious expression of pencil, brush and paint...
Basil Alkazzi