S
otheby's is delighted to welcome NBA superstar Karl-Anthony Towns and entrepreneur, creator, model and philanthropist Jordyn Woods as guest curators of this season's Contemporary Curated auction. Together, they bring their shared perspective as collectors and cultural tastemakers to the sale, reflecting a new generation of globally engaged patrons whose interests span art, fashion, sports and entrepreneurship. Drawing on their enthusiasm for collecting and visual culture, Towns and Woods have assembled a highly personal selection of works by leading postwar and contemporary artists, including George Condo, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Helen Frankenthaler, Alma Thomas, John Chamberlain and Rashid Johnson. Spanning painting, sculpture and works on paper, the selection reflects a dynamic cross-section of artistic innovation across generations. Exploring themes of identity, perception, transformation and cultural expression, the group offers insight into the couple's evolving journey as collectors and the artists, ideas and creative voices that continue to resonate most deeply with them.
“We're drawn to works that spark emotion, hold memories, and tell stories. Whether it's the energy of a piece, the history behind it, or the way it resonates with our own experiences, we're always looking for art that we can connect with and live with every day.”
S otheby's is honored to present the Collection of architect, educator, and historian Robert A.M. Stern. Among the most influential American architects of his generation, Stern built his legacy on the conviction that tradition and innovation need not be opposing forces. His architecture, scholarship, and teaching were grounded in a deep understanding of history while remaining open to the possibilities of the present. The Collection he assembled over decades reflects this same sensibility. Bringing together highlights by leading figures of Minimalism, Post-Minimalism, and Pop Art, it reveals an enduring engagement with form, space, materiality, and the ways artists and architects alike have reimagined modernism across generations.
Deeply committed to the cultural life of St. Louis, Caro and James Schneithorst Sr. were active supporters of the arts whose engagement extended far beyond collecting. While Caro played the leading role in shaping the Collection, the couple immersed themselves in a vibrant community of artists, dealers, collectors and museum patrons, developing close relationships throughout the art world. Particularly influential were legendary St. Louis dealer and collector Ronald “Ronnie” Greenberg and his wife, Jan Greenberg, whose friendship helped guide and inform their collecting journey. Beginning with Caro’s acquisition of Henry Moore’s Reclining Figure in 1984 (to be offered in Sotheby’s Modern Discoveries auction), the Schneithorsts assembled an exceptional collection of modern and contemporary art, including highlights by Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, Richard Diebenkorn and Betty Woodman. A defining acquisition came in 1986 with Roy Lichtenstein's Green Head, purchased from Leo Castelli Gallery to become the cornerstone of the Collection for the last 40 years.
The Schneithorsts' collecting was shaped by a remarkable circle of artists and fellow patrons, including Julian Schnabel, Donald Sultan, Bernard "Barney" Ebsworth, Joseph Pulitzer Jr. and Sydney Schoenberg, among many others. Their home became a gathering place for conversations around contemporary art, reflecting the relationships that stood at the heart of the Collection. Caro further distinguished herself through her service on the boards of the Saint Louis Art Museum and Laumeier Sculpture Park, while she and James were generous supporters of museum acquisitions and initiatives that helped strengthen the city's cultural institutions. Reflecting decades of curiosity, engagement and patronage, the Schneithorst Collection stands as a testament not only to significant works of art, but also to the artists, dealers, collectors and institutions that shaped its formation
