Central West End artist Scott Hepper has another painting up for auction this month and this time the money will go to help support the St. Louis Artists' Guild's Art For Children program. Hepper's work has become a well-known source of funds since the national success of this 9/11 commemmorative painting five years ago.
"Every time a charity asks me for money, I say I don't have a checkbook but I have a paintbrush," said Hepper, who is the floral department manager and buyer for Straub's Supermarkets.
Five years ago Hepper was the owner and sole employee of Springfield Coffee Co. when a local television station asked him to donate one of his paintings to help raise money for the Red Cross and its 9/11 relief efforts.
Hepper's painting quickly became a national story. People all over the world began purchasing lithographs of his cubist rendering of a fiery sunset behind the World Trade Center. The picture was painted a month before the attacks, but the clouds and sunsets that are the staple of Hepper's work resembled explosions behind the towers. His painting raised more than $20,000 for the Red Cross and was purchased by celebrities such as David E. Kelly, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and President George W. Bush.
Since then Hepper has raised thousands of dollars for local charities, including the St. Louis Basilica and the St. Louis Artists' Guild. This time the auction has been organized by WB11 and will take place on Sept. 14. The ColesLamar Gallery at 4655 Maryland Ave. will be displaying Hepper's 9/11 anniversary painting until the auction as part of an exhibit of Hepper's work that will run until the end of the month.
