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Outstanding Southern California Collection of Photographs To Be Sold Across Three Christie’s
OUTSTANDING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE SOLD ACROSS THREE CHRISTIE’S
SINGLE-OWNER SALES IN 2008 AND 2009
New York - Christie’s is delighted to have been entrusted with the sale of Photographs from the Collection of Bruce and Nancy Berman across a series of three single-owner auctions beginning in April 2008. All will take place at Christie’s in New York.
The Bermans, having lived and worked in the Los Angeles film community for the past 30 years, and after 16 years of collecting, have decided that the time has come for them to pursue other interests and release their photographs into the world, each to find a new home.
As an acknowledgment of gratitude to the city that has afforded their lives and collecting activities, they have elected to pair each of the sales with substantial donations of photographs to three prominent Los Angeles arts institutions; The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and the J. Paul Getty Museum.
Joshua Holdeman, International Director of Christie’s Photographs Department, says: “Christie’s is honored to have been given the opportunity to join with the Bermans in such a philanthropic endeavor that will benefit and enrich the Los Angeles community and its visitors forever.”
Comprised of 2,500 photographs ranging from early American masters such as Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange to post war luminaries such as Diane Arbus and William Eggleston, the Berman Collection is singular in its volume and depth of holdings of works by certain key artists that figure prominently in the history of 20th century art and culture.
While the Berman collection of photographs is one of the largest and most important of its kind to be privately held in Southern California, selections have been publicly exhibited, most recently at the J. Paul Getty Museum in the fall of 2006. Where we live: Photographs of America from the Berman Collection was an exhibition of one hundred and seventy prints by twenty four important contemporary artists, and was accompanied by an eponymous exhibition catalogue.
The formation of the collection and its dispersal tell a dual story. First and foremost, it provides a rare chance to study - from its inception to its mature development to its complete dispersal into the world - the life of a large collection of any kind; and second, a true Los Angeles story in every sense.
The Auction Program:
Photographs by Diane Arbus from the Collection of Bruce and Nancy Berman April 2008
Photographs by William Eggleston from the Collection of Bruce and Nancy Berman October 2008
Photographs from the Collection of Bruce and Nancy Berman April 2009
About Christie’s
Christie’s is the world’s leading art business with global auction sales in 2006 that totalled £2.51 billion / $4.67 billion. Worldwide sales for the first half of 2007 totalled £1.63 billion / $3.25 billion, an increase of 32% by £ and 45% by $ from the same period last year and highest half year sales ever in art market history. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service, and international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie’s conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 600 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $600 to over $80 million. Christie’s has 85 offices in 43 countries and 14 salerooms around the world including London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Dubai and Hong Kong. Most recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging markets such as China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Dubai, Mumbai and Russia. Christie’s also offers its clients worldwide access to its sales through Christie’s LIVETM, its unique, real-time online bidding service.
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium
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November 30th, 2007 at 12:03 pm