Sir Daniel Winn's Donated Works Raise $70,000 at Jane Seymour's 16th Annual Open Hearts, Healing Arts Gala

Contemporary artist's bronze sculpture "Metamorph" and his original painting on a Louis XIII Cognac coffret both hit the block at the Malibu benefit

MALIBU, Calif., May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Two works donated by contemporary artist and philanthropist Sir Daniel Winn brought in a combined $70,000 at the live auction during the Open Hearts Foundation's 16th Annual Open Hearts, Healing Arts Gala, held Saturday, April 18 on the oceanfront grounds of Jane Seymour's private Malibu estate.

Winn's bronze-and-lucite sculpture "Metamorph" (50" × 20" × 22") sold for $55,000. His original oil-on-decanter coffret and crystal glass set, created for Louis XIII Cognac, sold for $15,000. All proceeds benefit the Open Hearts Foundation's grantmaking for nonprofit partners using the arts to support children, caregivers, and communities facing hardship.

Combined with additional contributions from Winn's sponsored table at the gala, total giving attributed to the artist and his guests exceeded $100,000 for the evening. The Foundation raised over $600,000 across the weekend's programming, which included Friday's Jubilee Celebration marking Seymour's career in film, stage, and painting.

Following a screening of the trailer for "Chrysalis," his forthcoming autobiographical feature film — an account of his escape from war-torn Vietnam in 1975 and the life he rebuilt in the United States — Winn took the podium to address the room ahead of the bidding on his own pieces. Directed by J. Robert Schulz and starring veteran actress Kieu Chinh, the film screens at the Cannes Marché du Film (Cannes Market) in May. Winn spoke briefly about how the film's themes — loss, reinvention, and the people who opened doors for him along the way — mirror the Foundation's own motto: "Empowering those who turn adversity into possibility."

"Jane has been a dear friend for years, and what she's built with Open Hearts is the real thing. These children get handed a chance — the same kind of chance strangers once gave me."

— Sir Daniel Winn

The evening also honored two of the Foundation's grantee-partners: Andrea and Stephen Ingle of Creative Kids in El Paso, Texas, and Laurie Meadoff of the CityKids Foundation in New York City.

"Daniel's story embodies the Open Hearts philosophy. He arrived in this country as a child with nothing and has spent his life living with an open heart and using his talents to give back to others. To have him join us and donate his art is exactly the kind of generosity this Foundation was built to celebrate."

— Jane Seymour, Founder, Open Hearts Foundation

A silent auction featured additional donated works, including "Enchanted," an oil on canvas by TAO, a mentee of Winn's.

About Sir Daniel Winn

Sir Daniel K. Winn is a Vietnamese-American artist, curator, and philanthropist, and the creator of "Existential Surrealism," a contemporary art movement that uses surrealist composition and figurative subject matter to examine the nature of human existence. Winn escaped war-torn Vietnam in 1975 as a child refugee and later left medical school to pursue art. He is the founder and CEO of Winn Slavin Fine Art in Beverly Hills. In 2018, he was knighted by the Princely House of Schaumburg-Lippe-Nachod in recognition of his philanthropic work and contributions to the arts. His feature film "Chrysalis" screens at the Cannes Marché du Film in May 2026. Learn more at winnslavin.com.

About the Open Hearts Foundation

Founded in 2010 by Jane Seymour, the Open Hearts Foundation is dedicated to empowering those that turn adversity into possibility. Guided by the Open Hearts Philosophy—rooted in compassion, resilience, and action—the Foundation supports emerging and growing organizations through grantmaking, storytelling, and hands-on, skills-based engagement that extends beyond the check. Inspired by Seymour's mother, Mieke Frankenberg, a survivor of a Japanese internment camp during World War II, the Foundation has evolved into a dynamic platform for impact—convening leaders, fostering collaboration, and strengthening the capacity of nonprofits across the country. With a growing focus on arts and mental health, Open Hearts Foundation is helping expand access to creative pathways for healing and well-being for vulnerable communities. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.9 million in grants to organizations nationwide, while continuing to build an ecosystem of support that amplifies impact. Open Hearts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity (Federal ID 27-1215063). Learn more at http://openheartsfoundation.org.

Media Contact for Sir Daniel Winn

Rick Krusky
MWPR Inc.
[email protected]
818-521-8294

SOURCE Sir Daniel K. Winn