Masterpieces Unveiled: Joe Lewis's Record-Breaking Art Collection to be Auctioned at Sotheby's London
A significant art collection owned by British billionaire Joe Lewis will be auctioned at Sotheby’s in London this June, with an estimated value of £150m to £200m. This collection is considered the most valuable single-owner collection ever to be sold in the UK. The sale will feature works by renowned artists such as Gustav Klimt, Amedeo Modigliani, Francis Bacon, Pablo Picasso, Chaïm Soutine, and Lucian Freud.
The selection of artworks includes Klimt’s Bildnis Gertrud Loew, Modigliani’s Homme à la pipe, Bacon’s Two Studies for Self-Portrait, Picasso’s drawing of Dora Maar, Soutine’s Portrait de garçon en bleu, and Freud’s Woman in a Grey Sweater. The collection, accumulated by Lewis and his daughter Vivienne over several decades, showcases their commitment to figurative painting and the avant-garde artists of today.
The decision to sell the collection in London is a strategic move by Lewis, showing confidence in the city's art market despite perceived declines in recent years. By choosing London as the auction location, Lewis aims to challenge the narrative of London's art market being in decline and to highlight the city's significance as a global art hub. The sale is seen as a vote of confidence in London's art market and a testament to Lewis's rule-breaking and rebellious nature.
Joe Lewis, a successful businessman with a net worth of around $7bn, made his fortune in currency trading and now oversees the investment firm Tavistock Group. His involvement in the art world includes being a major shareholder at Christie’s in the past and acquiring significant art collections. The upcoming auction of his art collection at Sotheby’s in London is expected to attract global attention and reaffirm London's position as a key player in the art market.