T his September, Sotheby’s will lift the veil on the extraordinary personal collection of legendary patron and aesthete Pauline Karpidas, showcasing the masterpieces of Surrealist art and furniture design that adorned her one-of-a-kind home in London. At the core of the offering is the greatest collection of Surrealism to emerge in recent history, born from an encounter with Alexander Iolas which sparked a flame in Pauline and brought the pioneering gallerist out of retirement. Decades of acquisitions followed, including from some of the most important auctions in art market history: the prestigious collections of Edward James, William N. Copley, Hélène Anavi, André Meyer, Julien Levy, and the Estates of Man Ray, René Magritte, and André Breton.
In the Karpidas’ London residence, Pauline’s unique vision found its spiritual home. Masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, René Magritte, Salvador Dalí and more lived seamlessly alongside unique furniture personally imagined and crafted for Pauline by many of the friends and artists she loved and supported, with sculptural renditions of the natural world by Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne and designs by Mattia Bonetti and André Dubreuil, brought together by interior designer Jacques Grange and gallerist David Gill. All set against a fantastical backdrop adorned with animal prints, a bold palette and bookcases heaving with tomes on art, dreams and philosophy.
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Step Inside Pauline Karpidas’ Eclectic London Home Featuring Magritte, Dalí, Picasso, Warhol & More
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Limited-Edition Collection Book
Pauline Karpidas: The London Collection is available to purchase for a limited time at Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries. Price: £60
Contact
To register your interest for further information on the sale contents as it is revealed, please email info.karpidas@sothebys.com.
“Ever since my journey into the arts began, I have had the great honour of meeting a world of wonderful individuals who have made this collection possible – from Alexander Iolas, who opened my eyes and was my mentor, and many of the incredible artists themselves. I have always seen myself as a temporary custodian for their creations, and it feels like the right moment for the pieces that make up my London home to find their next generation of custodians. This is by no means an ending, as I will continue to live among art, read books, collect new works and support artists, as I have done for so many years now.”
“There is simply no other collection like that of Pauline Karpidas. From the extraordinary calibre of the artworks to the endless stories of deep friendships and collaborations, this is a window into a special world of boldness, conviction and insatiable curiosity. We look forward to opening our doors in September and sharing the fruits of a journey that started almost exactly 50 years ago with a chance encounter with surrealist art.”