Following the passing of famed Chinese American architect, I.M. Pei, Christie’s will be auctioning off the icon’s tasteful collection of art. I.M. Pei passed away in May of this year at 102 years old. Throughout Pei’s long career, he has been praised as one of the most talented architects of the 20th and 21st centuries. Pei’s designs include the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, to name just a few.
The auction that’s set to take place this Fall in New York, Paris, and Hong Kong is said to include works from artists such as Willem de Kooning, Zao Wou-Ki, Barnett Newman, Henry Moore, and Frank Kline, among many other highly acclaimed artists. Over the course of I.M. Pei’s 72 years of marriage to his wife Eileen, the couple amassed a praiseworthy collection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures. A wide range of international artists and styles are represented in the collection, which ranges from Impressionist & Modern Art to 20th century Asian works and Chinese paintings. The entire collection of Eileen and I.M. Pei is estimated to gross over $25 million USD.
Reflecting on her parents’ collection and their close relationship with many of the artists, Liane Pei stated: “My parents’ collection is a personal reflection of how they lived. They shared a deep curiosity about the world and I have wonderful memories of traveling with them. No matter the country, they always seemed to have friends, many of whom were artists, architects, gallerists and museum directors, ready to welcome them. There was always a deep feeling of mutual respect, warmth and friendship. Whenever we were in Paris, we would visit Zao Wou-ki, whom I always referred to as ‘Uncle Wou-ki,’ to see his latest paintings. Years later, I recall a splendid trip to Venice with Annalee Newman, whom I adored as a grandmother. She and Barnett Newman, along with friends such as Tony Caro, Isamu Noguchi, and Pierre and Tana Matisse were often invited to our home. A tremendously accomplished chef and consummate hostess, my mother was always ready with a delicious home-cooked meal, which my father was equally ready to match with the perfect bottle of wine. My parents cherished these friendships. Even when these friends were far away, however, it never felt like that. We lived with their art every day and so they were always present. In that respect, I believe my parents could not have been happier, as they found inspiration in, and were always surrounded by, their treasured friends.”
The collection created by the Peis together with their artist friends was approached in a way that was highly inspired by personal relationships and studio visits. I.M. Pei is quoted as once stating “Great artists need great clients.” Mr. and Mrs. Pei acquired many works directly from the studios of acclaimed artists such as Jacques Lipchitz and Jean Dubuffet.
“The Barnett Newmans came from his wife Annalee Newman a few years after Newman passed away and many of the Jean Dubuffets are inscribed specifically to the Peis. Their collection was a significant part of the couple’s self-designed home, which speaks very much to the dialogue they had between top artists of the 20th century and I.M Pei’s aesthetic eye as their contemporary in the field of architecture,” said Johanna Flaum, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales, Post-War and Contemporary Art at Christie’s
Particular highlights of this collection include Jean Dubuffet’s La Brouette (The Wheelbarrow) (Estimate: EUR 350,000 – 550,000), which took twelve years to complete, and Barnett Newman’s Untitled 4, 1950 (Estimate: in the region of US $8 million) and Untitled 5, 1950 (Estimate: in the region of US $5 million), which were both acquired from Newman’s widow, Annalee in the mid-1970s by the Pei family.
Featured Image: Eileen and I.M. Pei, Hong Kong, 1988 | Courtesy Eileen and I.M. Pei Family Archive, provided via Christie’s
