New York art auction fall highlights include Paul Allen collection and a rare Andy Warhol

The estimated $1 billion collection will be sold in two live auctions at Christie's Rockefeller Center on November 9-10.

art auction, new york art auction, sotheby's art auction

People walk outside of Sotheby's building during a press preview before Sotheby’s November auctions in New York, U.S.. (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

The fall art auction season kicks off in New York City next week, with auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s both expecting to bring in record-breaking sales.

Among the highlights is Christie’s Paul G. Allen Collection, which includes more than 150 pieces spanning 500 years. The collection, from the estate of the late Microsoft co-founder, includes works by Pablo Picasso, Georges Seurat, Paul Cezanne and Lucien Freud.

“Many of the works in the collection are expected to be records for the artist. Many of them actually were records for the artist at the time that they were purchased by Paul Allen from previous auctions, the Freud being one of them,” said Christie’s Vice Chairman Johanna Flaum.

Story continues below this ad

“We will expect records for Seurat, Cezanne, many of the masterpieces within the collection.”

Henry Moore, art auction, new york art auction, sotheby's art auction

People look at Henry Moore’s “Reclining Figure: Festival” during a press preview before Sotheby’s November auctions in New York, U.S., November 4, 2022. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

The estimated $1 billion collection will be sold in two live auctions at Christie’s Rockefeller Center on Nov. 9-10.

Then on Nov. 17 Christie’s will hold a 21st century evening sale with highlights that include Jean-Michel Basquiat’s “Sugar Ray Robinson,” a portrait of the legendary boxer.

“Our estimate is in the region of $35 million… This painting is an absolute masterpiece by the artist,” said Christie’s Head of the 21st Century Evening Sale, Isabella Lauria.
Sotheby’s, meanwhile, expects to break records with Piet Mondrian’s “Composition No. II,” estimated in excess of $50 million, and Andy Warhol’s “White Disaster.”

Story continues below this ad

Andy Warhol, art auction, new york art auction, sotheby's art auction

People take a look of Andy Warhol masterpiece from seminal death and disaster series before Sotheby’s November auctions in New York, U.S., November 4, 2022. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

“The Warhol is estimated to sell in excess of $80 million. There have only been three large scale ‘Disasters’ to come to market in the past 20 years, and each time one has come up – in 2007 and 2013 – it’s reset the auction record for Andy Warhol,” said Sotheby’s Head of Contemporary Art for the Americas, David Galperin.

Sotheby’s Modern Art Evening Auction will be held on Nov. 14, followed by a Contemporary Evening Auction on Nov. 16.

“There are so many amazing works on offer,” Sotheby’s head of impressionist and modern art for the Americas, Julian Dawes, said. “I certainly feel that we will see a very strong market this fall.”

📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!