One of the most significant private collections of Surrealist and postwar art assembled by collector and patron Pauline Karpidas is set for auction at Sotheby’s London on September 17–18, 2025. This extraordinary sale is expected to reach around £60 million ($81 million), making it the most valuable single-owner sale Sotheby’s has ever hosted in Europe. The collection’s depth and quality reflect Karpidas’s decades-long personal ties to influential artists and her discerning eye for masterpieces.
The Vision Behind the Collection
Karpidas’s collection reveals a singular passion for Surrealism and postwar art, featuring works by iconic figures including René Magritte, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dalí. At the heart of the sale is Magritte’s La Statue Volante (1940–41), a rare oil painting with a rich provenance, expected to fetch between £9 million and £12 million. The painting was originally acquired from Alexander Iolas, the eminent Greek-American gallerist who helped introduce Surrealist art to international audiences. Karpidas’s affinity for these works was nurtured through her close relationships with artists and collectors, deeply influencing her assembly of this remarkable collection.
The auction extends beyond paintings to include objects that blend form and function, such as bespoke furniture. A standout is a sculptural copper twig bed designed by Claude Lalanne, illustrating Karpidas’s interest in merging fine art and designer craftsmanship within her living spaces.
The Collector’s Unique Journey
Pauline Karpidas started her art collecting journey after relocating from Manchester to Athens in the 1970s, where she met Alexander Iolas. Their encounter sparked a pivotal awakening for her, as she began acquiring works connected to seminal Surrealist collections once owned by Edward James, André Breton, and others. Over the years, Karpidas’s home in London became an informal salon for contemporary art luminaries such as Jeff Koons and Tracey Emin, blending personal passion, patronage, and friendship.
This upcoming auction follows the successful sale of her Hydra collection in 2023, which substantially surpassed expectations and underscored the increasing market prominence of Surrealist pieces, especially by women artists like Leonora Carrington and Dorothea Tanning.
Market Context and Cultural Significance
Despite a cautious art market overall, Surrealism’s relevance remains strong, with women Surrealist artists experiencing notable surges in prices and collector interest. Sotheby’s chairman in Europe, Oliver Barker, emphasizes how Karpidas embodies the role of a passionate collector with an intuitive sense for artworks that bear both historical and emotional weight.
The auction offers collectors a rare chance to acquire masterpieces that carry not only artistic merit but also the stories and relationships that shaped Karpidas’s collection, illustrating her impact on contemporary art patronage in Europe.
Exhibition and Viewing Information
Sotheby’s will host a specially curated exhibition of the collection beginning September 8, 2025, at their London galleries. Visitors will encounter a display designed to evoke the atmosphere of Karpidas’s own home, complete with signature elements such as her bold tiger-print carpets. This immersive presentation seeks to provide insight into the environment in which these significant works were originally enjoyed.
Related Keywords with Anchor Text Links
This auction highlights important aspects of the art world including Pauline Karpidas’s Surrealist collection, the significance of Sotheby’s London auctions, the rising prominence of women Surrealists in the market, and the blending of fine art and bespoke design.
Image Source Acknowledgment
Visual documentation including photographs of Magritte’s La Statue Volante, Warhol pieces, and Lalanne-designed furniture is available via the official Sotheby’s auction page, as well as in coverage by CNN and ARTnews.
FAQ
Q1: Who is Pauline Karpidas and why is her Surrealist collection important?
A1: Pauline Karpidas is a notable British art collector whose collection includes exceptional works by Surrealist and postwar artists. The collection is renowned for its quality, provenance, and the close artistic relationships that shaped it.
Q2: What are the key highlights of the Sotheby’s auction?
A2: The auction’s centerpiece is René Magritte’s La Statue Volante (1940–41), supported by important works by Picasso, Dali, Warhol, Leonora Carrington, and exclusive design pieces like Claude Lalanne’s copper twig bed.
Q3: When and where will the auction and exhibition take place?
A3: The auction is scheduled for September 17–18, 2025, at Sotheby’s London. The collection will be exhibited starting September 8 in specially designed galleries.
Q4: What is the estimated sales value of the collection?
A4: The total estimate is about £60 million ($81 million), marking it the largest single-owner sale at Sotheby’s in Europe to date.
Q5: What makes this collection stand out in the contemporary art market?
A5: Its breadth, craftsmanship, preserved provenance, and Karpidas’s relationships with artists make the collection uniquely representative of Surrealism’s ongoing cultural resonance and collecting trends.
Pauline Karpidas’s Sotheby’s auction promises to be a defining moment for collectors and enthusiasts, celebrating a private collection that bridges art, design, and deep personal history.
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