Saturday, October 24, 2026 · 6:30–9:30pm

The CODE Building – Irving Theater

225 W Water St, Charlottesville, VA 22902

$75/ticket*

Join us for an evening of art, community — and take home a dog!

Join us for an unforgettable night of art and community, and your chance to bid on a life-sized, hand-painted Labrador statue to take home**.
The 20 hand-painted statues go up for live auction the night of the event, alongside a curated selection of online silent auction items.

Every winning bid helps Service Dogs of Virginia build a new facility. Get your tickets today — tickets are limited.

Can't attend the live auction? You can still bid on both silent auction items and the statues.

Just click here to receive an email notification when online bidding registration opens. Registration links and item details will be emailed October 9.

You do not need to purchase a ticket if you are not attending the live auction.

Questions about bidding? See our bidding information.

Ticket includes:

  • Admission to the Art Unleashed Auction and the opportunity to see all 20 one-of-a-kind, artist-painted Labrador Retriever statues in person and silent auction items
  • The opportunity to meet and connect with the artists and hear the stories behind their creations
  • The chance to meet some of the facility dogs making a difference across Virginia
  • A behind-the-scenes look at the future of Service Dogs of Virginia, including plans for our new training campus
  • An inspiring client story sharing the life-changing impact of a service dog
  • Heavy hors d'oeuvres and one complimentary drink ticket to enjoy during the evening

Attire: Smart Casual

*The tax-deductible portion of your ticket will be provided with your purchase confirmation.

**Winning bidders are expected to take their statues and silent auction items home following the auction. Display stands are not included with the winning bid.

Hand-painted gold Labrador Retriever statue with blue floral and greenery details

Tickets are limited and sold on a first-come basis. We can't guarantee availability at the door, so buy early to make sure you're in the room.

Find a statue near you
20 statues are on display across Virginia through mid-September.

See them in person before auction!

Can’t Attend? Bid Online
You can still be part of Art Unleashed from anywhere. Bids can be made online through the auction app — you're able to participate in both the live and silent auctions remotely. Complete the form below and you'll receive your registration link by email closer to the event.

Learn more about the statues, artists and statue Sponsors

  • Colorful ceramic sculpture of a dog with painted designs, sitting outdoors on a ground covered with dry leaves and green plants.
  • Painted wooden sculpture of a dog, decorated with colorful floral and nature-themed designs, situated on a grassy area in a forest.
  • A mosaic sculpture of a dog standing on grass in a forested area with trees in the background.
  • Colorfully painted horse sculpture outdoors among green foliage.
  • Balloons shaped like a dog with colorful decorations are placed outdoors on grass in a park, with trees and sunlight in the background.
  • Painted black sculpture of a dog with colorful floral and butterfly patterns, situated among green bushes and trees outdoors.
  • Colorful dog sculpture covered in multicolored paw print patterns, standing on grass next to a tree in a park.
  • Colorful inflatable sculpture of a dog with sunflower designs, situated on a grassy area with trees in the background.
  • A sculpture of a dog painted with colorful, intricate patterns including flowers, a cardinal bird, and abstract designs, situated outdoors on a grassy area with trees in the background.
  • Colorful painted dog sculpture in a forest setting with trees and grass.
  • A weathered, painted metal horse sculpture outdoors on a grassy lawn with trees in the background.
  • Colorful inflatable giraffe with a floral and text pattern, standing on grass in a forested area.
  • Colorful painted dinosaur sculpture outdoors among trees and grass.
  • Colorful painted horse sculpture outdoors on grassy ground with trees and green foliage in the background.
  • Decorative horse sculpture painted with a colorful mosaic pattern in green, blue, yellow, orange, and purple, situated outdoors on grass with trees in the background.
  • Decorated ceramic dog sculpture with colorful paintings of flowers, butterflies, and various nature motifs, positioned outdoors among trees and ground cover.
  • A life-sized sculpture of a zebra painted with black and white zebra stripe patterns, situated in a grassy area surrounded by trees.
  • Colorful painted sculpture of a dog outdoors in a wooded area with green trees and grass.
  • Decorative horse sculpture with a jockey helmet, painted with images of horse racing, placed on a grassy area in a wooded park.

Art Unleashed auction Sponsors

How to bid

Both auctions are run through our auctioneer Lucky L Enterprises’ app. The Silent Auction is online bidding only, closing at 7:30 PM EST on October 24. The Live Auction features the statues and runs by paddle in the room starting at 8:00 PM — remote guests can bid on the same statues in real time through the app. Registration links and item details will be emailed October 9.

    1. Purchase a ticket to the event.

    2. Register using the link emailed October 9. This lets you start bidding on the Silent Auction right away, view items, and set a max bid on Live Auction statues in advance.

    3. Prefer to wait? You can also register at the event — our auctioneer will help you get set up. You'll still be able to bid on the Silent Auction, though with less time before it closes at 7:30 PM.

    4. Online bidding for the Silent Auction ends at 7:30 PM EST on Oct. 24. Live Auction bidding begins at 8:00 PM.

    5. See "How does the max bid feature work?" below.

    1. Complete the form above to let us know you'd like to bid remotely — no ticket required.

    2. Register using the link emailed October 9. You'll need to register in order to bid on both the online silent auctions items and statues.

    3. Online bidding for the Silent Auction ends at 7:30 PM EST on Oct. 24. Live Auction bidding begins at 8:00 PM — continue bidding through the app, or set a max bid in advance.

    4. See "How does the max bid feature work?" below.

  • Set the highest amount you're willing to pay for an item, and the app will automatically bid on your behalf in small increments to keep you in the lead — up to your max. You'll get an email if you're outbid or your max is reached, as long as bid notifications are turned on.

event frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. Please note, tickets are limited and sold on a first-come basis. We can't guarantee availability at the door, so buy early to secure your spot.

  • The attire is smart casual. Think dresses, skirts, jumpsuits, dress pants, blazers, button-down shirts, polos, or dark jeans paired with a polished top. Wear something comfortable that you'll feel great in while enjoying an evening of art, community, and supporting Service Dogs of Virginia.

  • .Parking:

    • Water Street Parking Garage: Located at 200 E. Water Street (about 0.2 miles away). The first hour is free, with standard hourly rates thereafter. From the garage, walk west up E. Water Street to reach the theater's Water Street entrance.

    • AirGarage Surface Lots: Public open-air lots are located nearby at 100 E Water St and along Water Street/1st Street, featuring pay-by-phone options.

    • Street Parking: Limited local street parking is available around the Downtown Mall area.

  • The CODE Building is fully wheelchair accessible with accessible parking and restrooms. Contact us in advance if you have specific accessibility needs.

  • Tickets are non-refundable but transferable. If you can't attend, you may transfer your ticket to another guest. Contact us at least 48 hours before the event.

Proceeds support our Together we Build Campaign

Net proceeds from Art Unleashed go directly toward Service Dogs of Virginia's campaign to build a dedicated permanent training facility — giving our dogs, trainers, and the families we serve a forever home in Virginia.