ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Jennifer Gilbert Sells Modernist Collection at Sotheby's to Fund Detroit Arts Space Lumana

market-auction · 2026-04-19

Jennifer Gilbert, an entrepreneur, is raising funds for her Detroit nonprofit arts organization Lumana by auctioning off Modernist masterpieces from her collection at Sotheby's in New York during the spring of 2025, with a goal of exceeding $10 million. The highlight of the auction is Joan Mitchell's Loom II, a 1976 painting valued between $5-7 million, which fetched over $1 million in 2013. Kenneth Noland's 1958 piece Circle is appraised at $4-6 million. Additional artworks include George Rickey's 1955 sculpture Orenary ($50,000-70,000) and Harry Bertoia's Untitled ($80,000-120,000). Lumana, designed by SO-IL, is set to debut in late 2027. Gilbert's collection was previously exhibited at Detroit's Shepherd art space in late 2024. The auctions are scheduled for May 14, May 15, and June.

Key facts

  • Jennifer Gilbert is selling Modernist masterpieces to fund Lumana, her Detroit nonprofit arts organization
  • Sales aim to raise over $10 million through Sotheby's New York auctions in spring 2025
  • Joan Mitchell's Loom II (1976) has a $5-7 million estimate, previously sold for $1 million in 2013
  • Kenneth Noland's Circle (1958) carries a $4-6 million estimate
  • George Rickey's Orenary (1955) and Harry Bertoia's Untitled have estimates of $50,000-70,000 and $80,000-120,000 respectively
  • Lumana is located in Stanton Yards on Detroit's East Village riverfront and will open in late 2027
  • Architecture firm SO-IL is adapting the former shipbuilding site for the arts hub
  • Gilbert's collection was shown in "Seen/Scene" at Detroit's Shepherd in late 2024, partly curated by Nick Cave

Entities

Artists

  • Jennifer Gilbert
  • Joan Mitchell
  • Kenneth Noland
  • George Rickey
  • Harry Bertoia
  • Nick Cave
  • Henry Taylor
  • Jeffrey Gibson
  • Helen Frankenthaler
  • Olafur Eliasson
  • Rashid Johnson

Institutions

  • Lumana
  • Sotheby's New York
  • Christie's New York
  • Shepherd
  • SO-IL

Locations

  • Detroit
  • United States
  • New York
  • Stanton Yards
  • East Village riverfront

Sources