Sotheby's to Offer Works from the Collection of Dorothy and Roy Lichtenstein

C elebrated as one of the defining figures of the Pop art movement, Roy Lichtenstein’s dynamic practice expanded beyond his famous comic strip works, spanning a wide range of styles, media and themes. Following the sale of a select group of works from the Collection of Dorothy and Roy Lichtenstein at Sotheby’s in November 2024, Sotheby's is pleased to partner with the Lichtenstein family to offer an expanded trove of more than 40 works by the American Pop icon at auction this May. Coming to auction for the first time after remaining in their personal collection for decades, the group of works charts four decades of Lichtenstein’s practice, following his shift from abstract expressionism to Pop art in the 60s, to his exploration of modern art in the 70s, through to his celebrated Reflections series from the 80s, and culminating in his famous interiors and nudes of the 90s. Together, “Roy’s Lichtensteins” form a throughline of the artist’s most introspective examinations of his life and practice: the metaphorical reflections on his own oeuvre, his reflections on other artists and the art historical canon, and his formal explorations of rendering reflections in his work.

Roy and Dorothy Lichtenstein in his New York studio, 1968. Photo © Jack Mitchell/Getty Images

“From drawings to paintings to sculpture, this phenomenal group of works provide a front row seat to Lichtenstein’s incomparable genius. Together, the group is a survey of the artist’s reflections of art history over four decades of practice. Lichtenstein’s imagery continues to spark conversation as vividly today as it did at the time of its creation. These works are unveiled for the very first time at auction, coming from the private collection of Dorothy and Roy. The full scope of the offering is a rich and varied selection that will resonate with collectors around the world – there is truly something for everyone.”

David Galperin, Sotheby’s Vice Chairman, Head of Contemporary Art, Sotheby’s New York

A remarkable grouping of the artist’s output across various media, the group comprises paintings, drawings, sculpture and prints. Among the works on offer are the artist’s investigation of the work of the modernists, surrealists, and others, such as Picasso, Monet, Calder, subjecting them all to his own aesthetic and asserting his place in art history. A common thread of Lichtenstein’s distinct humor and joie de vivre is woven throughout. Works highlight his more literal takes on reflection and plays on illusion, and elsewhere, drawings and studies mark the genesis for Lichtenstein’s most iconic paintings. Estimated to achieve in excess of $35 million, highlights from the collection will travel to Hong Kong from 18-23 April before returning to New York for pre-sale exhibition ahead of Sotheby’s Contemporary Evening and Day sales this May.

Step Inside Roy Lichtenstein's Southampton Studio

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Born in New York City in 1923, Roy Lichtenstein fell in love with art from an early age. Drawing and sculpting in his teenage years, he took classes at the Art Students League, and also developed a deep love for jazz music. Drafted into the army in 1943, he later completed his Fine Arts degree at Ohio State University, and became an art instructor there. By 1951, Lichtenstein had his first solo show in New York, and in 1957, became an assistant professor at State University New York at Oswego. While he gained popularity in the early 1960s for his renowned “Girl Paintings,” the decade also saw him expand into sculpture and ceramics. His work was regularly shown in major exhibitions, solidifying his place in the Pop art movement alongside the likes of Warhol and Rosenquist. Despite his acclaim, his Ben-Day dots proved controversial at the time, and an infamous 1964 LIFE magazine headline asked: “Is (Lichtenstein) the worst artist in the U.S.?” In 1968, he married Dorothy Herzka, who later became president of the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, a notable philanthropist and custodian of the artist’s legacy.

Roy Lichtenstein in his Washington Street studio with Reflections: Art, 1989. Photo © Bob Adelman. Art © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein

“Lichtenstein was keenly aware of his place in the lineage of art history. The crux of his practice is this interrogation of the nature of art and image making, and this is singularly relevant in one of the group's highlights, the aptly titled 'Reflections on Art'. Whether adapting the works of artists such as Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Alexander Calder, or using his own work as a jumping off point, Lichtenstein’s practice is uniquely reflexive and referential. This amazing group of works epitomizes that concern.”

Lucius Elliott, Head of Sotheby’s Contemporary Evening Auctions in New York

In the decades that followed, Lichtenstein turned his attention from comic book images to encompass a broader array of inspirations and source material. From the early 1970s, he and Dorothy often retreated to their coastal residence in Southampton, which featured a separate studio situated just across the lawn from the main home. Complete with his signature rotating custom easels, Lichtenstein created many of his works in his light-filled studio. Recent images taken by Sotheby’s offer a rare look inside the artist’s private, rarely photographed Southampton studio, featuring several of the works on offer in the auction in the space. Today, his work is held in esteemed collections around the world, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., The Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Centre Pompidou, Paris; San Francisco Museum of Art, and many more.

Portrait Triptych (Studies) in Lichtenstein's studio, Southampton, New York. Art © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein

Dorothy Lichtenstein was a generous philanthropist and a transformative figure in the art world, and co-founder and president of the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1939, she studied political science and art history at Arcadia University before becoming director of the Paul Bianchini Gallery in Manhattan, where she met Roy. The couple married in 1968 and remained together until his passing in 1997. Dorothy was celebrated for her gracious approach to preserving and sharing her husband's work and legacy. She orchestrated the donation of over 1,000 of his pieces - including paintings, sculptures, sketches, and personal archives -to museums worldwide, with the Whitney Museum as the main beneficiary. Beyond art, Dorothy led a rich life filled with curiosity and compassion. Her philanthropic interests spanned creative writing and film programs at Stony Brook Southampton, to animal rights and stem-cell research. In 2022, Dorothy and the Lichtenstein family donated Roy’s former studio to the Whitney Museum to house its Independent Study Program.