Jeff Koons Auctions $100 Milllion USD of His Personal Collection
Revealed as the mystery consignor behind Christie’s “Heroes & Lovers” lots.
Summary
Artist Jeff Koons is the consignor behind Christie's "Heroes & Lovers" collection, according to the New York Times
The lots span nine paintings, including Picasso's, Manet, and Cornelis van Haarlem, with an estimate of over $100 million USD
The deal is said to be reinvested into Koons' art practice following his 2019 auction peak
Christie’s upcoming “Heroes & Lovers” lots hail from a “distinguished private collector.” The New York Times met with two auction experts who have cleared the fog on the mystery figure, identifying him as none other than artist Jeff Koons.
The collection is expected to reel in more than $100 million USD with its nine paintings spanning the Renaissance to the 20th century. Works by Pablo Picasso, Édouard Manet, Tilman Riemenschneider, and Cornelis van Haarlem are on deck. Christie’s has declined to officially name the consignor.
The trove does have a distinctly Koonsian feel, with each lot linking back to references within the artist’s own work: Manet’s 1878–79 “Femme au tub” is echoed in “Woman in Tub” (1988); Cornelis van Haarlem’s 16th-century Herculean bull wrestling recalls Koons’s “Antiquity (Farnese Bull)” from 2009–12; while Picasso’s 1969 grayscale painting, “Le Baiser,” evokes the exploration of “male carnal desire” prevalent across Koons’ oeuvre.
“Le Baiser” is slated to be the star of the sale, estimated at around $40 million USD. Koons acquired the painting at Sotheby’s in 2008 for $17.4 million.
The sale arrives as Koons’ own auction market has cooled from its 2019 peak, when his stainless-steel Rabbit sold at Christie’s for $91.1 million. ARTDAI estimates his auction performance has fallen nearly 60 percent over the past decade. A person close to the Christie’s deal said Koons is selling to reinvest in his own art practice.
“Heroes & Lovers” from the collection of Jeff Koons will go up as part of Christie’s marquee 20th Century Evening Sale on November 17.
