Christie’s to Auction 3 of Agnes Gund’s Art Jewels

The art collector Agnes Gund, who died last September at age 87, was the kind of philanthropist about whom people wistfully say, “They don’t make them like that anymore.” She donated more than 1,500 works to museums and sold others to fund causes spanning criminal justice reform and reproductive rights. As she neared the end of her life, she made no secret of the fact that her coffers were nearly empty and most of her collection was spoken for.

Most — but not all. In May, at its marquee evening sales in New York, Christie’s will sell three of the works that Gund kept in her Manhattan apartment. That small number of objects belies a hefty payday: The auction house expects the trio to generate as much as $145 million. The proceeds will be used to settle Gund’s estate.

The star of the group — which Gund cherished so much that she lent it to a museum only once, more than 50 years ago — is an enveloping abstract painting by Mark Rothko in hues of forest green, indigo, black and cherry red. Created in 1964, it is estimated to sell for at least $80 million.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/arts/design/agnes-gund-auction-christies.html