Agnes Gund’s Remarkable Art Collection Going Up for Auction at Christie’s

When Agnes Gund died last September, the loss reverberated throughout the art world. A former president of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, she was heralded as an enthusiastic patron, formidable collector, and creative philanthropist. In January 2017, she sold just one blue-chip artwork from her extensive trove of exceptional examples—Roy Lichtenstein’s 1962 canvas Masterpiece—using the proceeds to launch the Art for Justice Fund, which aimed to reform the country’s criminal justice system.

“Agnes Gund was singular,” says Bonnie Brennan, Christie’s Chief Executive Officer. “A renowned collector, a trusted leader, and a passionate activist who lived her life with purpose, generosity, and meaningful civic engagement. She believed in the power of creativity to foster change and challenge society, and the art world as we know it today is defined by her legacy. We are forever grateful to her, and for her impact.”

In May, Christie’s will auction a number of works from Gund’s staggering collection as part of the house’s Marquee Week. The top lot will be Mark Rothko’s No. 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe), a 1964 work estimated to fetch $80 million. The 93-inch canvas is one of the largest from the period that is privately held and a rare example using the darker palette first seen in his 1958 Seagram Mural commission. It is also one of only seven paintings acquired directly from the artist still in the hands of the original buyer.

“Mark Rothko’s body of work embodies a rarified power, intimacy, and attraction that is truly singular—and this monumental Rothko canvas from the collection of Aggie Gund is unequivocally best-in-class,” says Sara Friedlander, Christie’s Chairman of Post-War and Contemporary Art. “Acquired directly from Rothko in his studio in the 1960s (at his recommendation), this work boasts unmatched provenance. For years, it has held pride of place in her great living room, standing as a cornerstone of her unbelievable collection.”

Also coming across the block will be Untitled (1961) by Cy Twombly, which carries a pre-sale estimate of $40 million to $60 million, as well as Untitled (Medici Princess) (1948) by Joseph Cornell, presumed to achieve between $3 million and $5 million.

Prior to the sale, the Rothko and Twombly works will go on a world tour, being displayed in London, Paris, and Hong Kong. In May, The Collection of Agnes Gund will be on display at Christie’s Rockefeller Center.

“We are honored and privileged to offer three masterpieces from her collection as a centerpiece of Christie’s Marquee Week in New York this May,” says Brennan. “It will be a celebration of Aggie, and all that she has given to the worlds of art and culture.”