David Bowie's art collection is going to auction at Sothebys in November, shedding a light on the private relationship the Thin White Duke had with his favorite artworks. Before being sold in a London exhibtion called Bowie/Collector in November, a preview of the works will tour the world from August to October, stopping in London, New York, L.A., and Hong Kong, providing an eclectic look into Bowie's thoughts about creativity.
Advertisement
It's well documented that the work in his home had an incredible impact on Bowie, not just as a person, but as an artist. In reaction to Frank Auerbach's sculptural 1965 painting, Head of Gerda Boehm, Bowie told The New York Times, “My God, yeah! I want to sound like that looks." Discussing art's role in his everyday life, he continues, "Art was, seriously, the only thing I’d ever wanted to own. It has always been for me a stable nourishment. I use it. It can change the way I feel in the mornings. The same work can change me in different ways, depending on what I’m going through." Alongside Auerbach, the decades-spanning collection includes artwork from Jean Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, the Surrealists, outsider artists, and a slew of contemporary African artists.
Frank Auerbach, Head of Gerda Boehm, 1965, Oil on board £300,000-500,000
Sothebys will also auction a series of Ziggy Stardust-worthy design items, like a silver, gold, and red cabinet by Milan designer Ettore Sottsass' Memphis Design Group, and a Brionvega stereo and turntable designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. “As a collector, Bowie looked for artists with whom he felt some connection, and for works that had the power to move or inspire him," says Simon Hucker, Senior Specialist in Modern & Post-War British Art at Sotheby’s. Both of these items look like set pieces from Bowie's iconic music videos, illuminating some of those connecctions between reality and the worlds Bowie constructed on stage and set for half a century.
Advertisement
The artworks that will be on display at Bowie/Collector and the four previews don't represent the artist's entire collection. As Sothebys representative Darrell Rocha tells The Creators Project, "The family are keeping a substantial number of works along with those that have particular significance to them, but the scale of the collection is such that there is too much for them to retain and enjoy everything." Just as in his life, we only see a part of the collection that nourished the shapeshifting rock star through his army of personas. Also as in his life, there will be plenty for everybody.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Air Power, 1984, Acrylic and oilstick on canvas £2.5-3.5m
ORIGINAL REPORTING ON EVERYTHING THAT MATTERS IN YOUR INBOX.
By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.