Tracey Emin spotted at £650,000 British Friends of Art Museums of Israel gala

The artist Tracey Emin joined 400 guests at the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel’s annual gala dinner and auction in London.

The artist, famous for her neon installations and the 1998 display of her unmade bed, has previously supported the nonprofit, donating a print to a raffle in 2010.

Emin, 56, was joined by collectors, artists and auction houses at the event which raised over £650,000 for education programmes run by art museums in Israel.

The guest of honour, the ceramist Edmund de Waal, author of the family memoir The Hare with Amber Eyes, donated a porcelain, gold, silver and alabaster item to the auction.

An iconic portrait of John Lennon and Yoko Ono taken hours before the Beatles star’s death captured by the photographer Annie Leibovitz fetched an eye-watering £80,000.

Other lots that went under the hammer included a portrait by the fashion photographer David Baile of the model Jean Shrimpton, who became one of the faces of 1960s Swinging London.

Organiser Pamela Crystal said British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel was “absolutely delighted” with the event.

“We particularly want to thank our guest of honour Edmund de Waal for his wonderful contribution and all those who supported us so generously, specially Christie’s for their generous sponsorship of the evening,” she said.