Matisse Foundation to Auction Pieces from their Holdings to Benefit Arts Education

Since its founding in 1995, The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation has diligently worked to fund arts education in New York City schools and share art through institutional grants and loans of treasured pieces. Founded by gallerist Maria- Gaetana “Tana” von Spreti, whose husband, Pierre Matisse, was the youngest child of the celebrated French artist Henri Matisse, the organization holds a substantial trove of paintings, drawings, and more by the family patriarch as well as Matisse’s contemporaries, like Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Jean Dubuffet, and many others.

“Pierre truly enjoyed talking about art,” said Alexandra Farkas, member of The Matisse Foundation board. “He had an incredible way of being down to earth and making it feel accessible and approachable, even to young people.”

Many years after Tana and Pierre’s passing, The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation has continued to champion the arts, and an upcoming online sale of approximately 60 artworks from its private holdings will help further those philanthropic efforts.

“Tana Matisse established the foundation with a passionate vision to further the great artistic legacy of her family by ensuring that young people have access to the arts regardless of their circumstances,” states Alessandra Carnielli, Chief Executive Officer, The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation. “Over more than 20 years, we have been honored to champion arts and arts education organizations throughout New York City, awarding 800 grants totaling more than $50 million. Great art connects us all, empowering communities and changing lives for the better. This auction honors the memory of Tana and Pierre, and will continue our mission of expanding creativity and human connection through the exceptional work of our grant recipients.”

Included in the Christie’s sale “Henri Matisse: Lines of Connection,” running September 24 through October 8, are works on paper culled directly from Pierre Matisse’s personal collection, including Nu au chapeau (La robe jaune), expected to fetch between $40,000 and $60,000, and Deux têtes, which carries a presale estimate of $60,000 to $80,000.

“Spending hours in the foundation’s archives, slowly sifting through prints and drawings that came directly from the artist and had slumbered unseen for decades, was a true privilege,” says Richard Lloyd, Christie’s Deputy Chairman, International Head of Department, Prints and Multiples. “Even for those familiar with his work, this immersion was an experience that will live long in the memory. I am sure that everyone who spends time with those we selected will feel an intimate connection to Matisse and his genius, just as we did.”

The auction aims to raise more than $1 million to aid myriad charity initiatives, including UpBeat NYC, a free program for youth in the South Bronx; Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, a music, technology, and STEM program geared towards girls and gender-expansive youth; the performance-art focused organization Classical Theatre of Harlem; and Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, that supports the underserved communities in Upper Manhattan.

“This carefully curated selection of over sixty works showcases a remarkable breadth of subject matter—from arabesques, landscapes, and flowers to heads, full figures, and self-portraits,” states Cyanne Chutkow, Christie’s Deputy Chairman, Senior International Specialist, Impressionist and Modern Art. “Spanning media including prints and drawings in ink, charcoal, and pencil, the sale offers a sweeping survey of Matisse’s finest works on paper. We anticipate collectors will respond enthusiastically.”