After a sequence of chance encounters in the late 1970s, photographer, filmmaker and activist Nan Goldin made the acquaintance of Cookie Mueller, an actress she initially recognized from John Waters films. As their friendship blossomed, Goldin took hundreds of images of Mueller over a 13 year period of time, ultimately compiling the selection of 15 shown here, to form the Cookie Mueller portfolio, commemorating both the photographer’s friendship, and subsequent loss on the occasion of Mueller’s death in 1989.

The Cookie Mueller Portfolio

Cookie Mueller

Join our team of specialists as they highlight some of their favorite lots in this spring photographs auction.

Specialist Picks

Explore Zanele Muholi’s series of self-portraits that engage and challenge our understanding of identity, representation, and ethnicity in portraiture.

Somnyama Ngonyama (Hail The Dark Lioness)

Somnyama Ngonyama

Pioneering Women Photographers

New York

Global Head of Prints &amp; Photographs

Emily Bierman

Senior Specialist, Photographs

Aimee Pflieger

Pre-sale Co-ordinator

Juliet McLoughlin

Meet our Specialists

Live Auction: 1 May 2023 • 6:00 PM EDT • New York

Live Auction: 2 May 2023 • 10:00 AM EDT • New York

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: +1 212 606 7000 
 
 <a class="Link" href="mailto:enquiries@sothebys.com" target="_blank">ENQUIRIES@SOTHEBYS.COM</a>

Stay informed with Sotheby’s top stories, videos, events &amp; news.

Sotheby’s spring photographs auction features works spanning the history of the medium. Highlights of 19th century photography include exceptional prints of Ancient Ruins in the Cañon de Chelle, N.M., by Timothy O’Sullivan and The Valley of the Anio&nbsp;by Robert Macpherson. Eugène Atget’s masterful La Villette, rue Asselin, fille publique faisant le quart devant sa porte, 19e, originally in the collection of Tristan Tzara, is offered at auction for the first time in over two decades. Icons of fashion photography include an incomparable platinum print of Irving Penn’s Harlequin Dress, alongside works by Helmut Newton and Ormond Gigli. Carrie Mae Weems’ The Jefferson Suite and Nan Goldin’s elegiac Cookie Portfolio lead a strong Contemporary offering, complemented by works by Cindy Sherman, Ming Smith, Diane Arbus, and Zanele Muholi. These photographs, as well as ones by Hiromu Kira, Raoul Ubac, Ansel Adams, William Eggleston, Jimmy DeSana, and Robert Mapplethorpe will be on view at Sotheby’s New York from April 1st to April 4th.