A once-in-a-generation collection of
Roy Lichtenstein’s
Art pieces are set for auction in May, with Sotheby’s anticipating that this lively collection could fetch over $35 million (€30.8 million).
The auction will showcase 40 items from the renowned pop art innovator’s private collection—a veritable bounty of artworks including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints, most of which have never before been displayed publicly.
A number of artworks originate from the Southampton residence Lichtenstein shared with his spouse Dorothy, featuring exclusive pieces created in the artist’s personal studio — an area typically shielded from public view and seldom captured through photography.
“Whether through sketches, paintings, or sculptures, this extraordinary collection offers an up-close view into Lichtenstein’s unparalleled brilliance,” remarked David Galperin.
Sotheby’s
Vice Chairman and Head of Contemporary Art in New York stated, “The complete range of this collection offers an extensive and diversified array that will appeal to art enthusiasts globally—there genuinely is a piece for every individual.”
The auction will chart the American artist’s evolution from his early abstract expressionist days through his iconic comic-strip canvases of the ’60s, to the more introspective and experimental works of later decades. It includes his 1970s explorations of modernist greats like
Picasso
and
Monet
– reimagined with Lichtenstein’s signature dots and bold lines – as well as his witty Reflections series from the ’80s and his luminous interiors and nudes from the ’90s.
“Lichtenstein’s imagery continues to spark conversation as vividly today as it did at the time of its creation,” Galperin added.
Born in New York, Lichtenstein was enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II and subsequently became an instructor of fine arts at Ohio State University. He gained prominence in the 1960s through his artwork inspired by comics, such as his “Damsels in Distress” collection—bold, vivid, and occasionally contentious pieces. In a notable 1964 piece for Life magazine, the question arose: “Is he the worst artist in America?”
However, the subsequent decades would demonstrate Lichtenstein’s lasting significance. Through the efforts of his widow, Dorothy, via the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, his artwork persistently questioned, honored, and playfully reinvented the canon of art history.
Sotheby’s plans to showcase select pieces from the collection in Hong Kong prior to their return.
New York
ahead of the May sales. For fans and collectors, it’s a rare chance to glimpse – and maybe even own – a piece of pop art history.
Learn more about the auction
here
.