Talented artists will have a chance to showcase their unique pieces of artwork, ranging from oil painting to lithography, in the second annual Fine Art Mart/Fine Art Smart Auction.

Anna Marie Coveny and Julie Keifer-Bell will co-chair the auction and Roberta Maxfield will emcee the event, to be held from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the DeKalb Area Women’s Center, 1021 State St.

The Fine Art Mart/Fine Art Smart was founded by Keifer-Bell last year.

“We intend to promote local artists and to benefit the DAWC programming,” Coveny said.

The auction, which is partially supported by the Rockford Area Arts Council and the Mary E. Stevens Concert and Lecture Fund, will showcase the works of 24 artists, including NIU’s Adrian Tio, who is the chair of the NIU art program, and other NIU faculty such as Michael Barnes, Karen Brown and Larry Gregory, Coveny said.

“The second annual Fine Art Mart/Fine Art Smart Auction is a wonderful opportunity for people to acquire artwork at a reduced cost and participate one-on-one with professional artists to create a work of art,” she said.

There will be a silent auction where visitors will bid on the artwork by writing down their price on a bid sheet. A minimum bid is set by the artists. The guests also will bid to have the opportunity of working with an artist to produce their own work, using the artist’s particular style.

All bidding will end at 9:45 p.m.

Those in attendance will have an opportunity to win door prizes, consisting of small pieces of artwork.

A wine and cheese reception will be held and music stylist Loren Hect will perform a variety of ballads, standards and Broadway hits.

The auction is open to all, and admission is a donation.