Christie’s has confirmed it will auction 16 masterworks from the private collection of the late media mogul S.I. Newhouse, per observer.com.
Estimated to fetch approximately $450 million, the selection will headline the house’s May marquee auctions in New York. The sale is led by museum-grade works by Jackson Pollock and Constantin Brâncuși, both carrying individual estimates in the region of $100 million.
The Pollock highlight, “Number 7A” (1948), is the largest drip painting remaining in private hands. Spanning over 330cm, the work has been out of public view since 1977. It is joined by Brâncuși’s rare gilded bronze “Danaïde” (1913), the only such example in private ownership. Previously setting a world record for modern sculpture when Newhouse acquired it in 2002, the piece is expected to achieve one of the highest prices of the season.
The consignment represents a significant victory for Christie’s over rival Sotheby’s, following aggressive competition for the estate’s holdings. This latest tranche follows previous successful Newhouse sales at Christie’s, including the 2019 sale of Jeff Koons’s “Rabbit” for $91 million. Advisors suggest the house’s financial terms and selling conditions were decisive in securing the current group.
Beyond the lead lots, the collection features substantial works by Pablo Picasso, including the bronze “Tête de femme” (1909) estimated at $40–60 million and “Homme à la guitare” (1913) at $35–55 million. Modernist masterpieces by Piet Mondrian, Joan Miró, and Henri Matisse also feature, with estimates ranging from $25 million to $65 million.
The sale concludes with a significant survey of American Pop art and Neo-Dada. Three works by Jasper Johns, including “Grey Target,” lead this category alongside pieces by Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and Roy Lichtenstein. The auction will be presented chronologically, tracing the evolution of 20th-century art through Newhouse’s highly disciplined and rigorous acquisitions.
S.I. Newhouse Jr., the longtime head of Advance Publications and Condé Nast, was regarded as one of the most formidable art collectors of the 20th century. Since his death in 2017, the phased dispersal of his collection has consistently set benchmarks for the global art market, reflecting his preference for “trophy” works of exceptional provenance and historical importance.
•Featured image: Jackson Pollock, Number 7A, 1948. Estimate in the region of $100 million/Christie’s Images Ltd. 2026
