Joanna Carson's Art Collection to Be Auctioned at Christie's
During Christie's Spring Marquee Week in May, the Joanna Carson Collection will be up for auction, showcasing pieces by Matisse, Degas, Picasso, and a unique sculpture by Henry Moore. This collection was owned by the late Joanna Carson, a model and philanthropist who was married to Johnny Carson from the early 1970s until the mid-1980s. The couple gathered numerous artworks while residing in Bel Air, where Joanna lived until her passing in 2025. Following this auction, a jewelry sale is scheduled for June. The highlight is Henry Moore's Double Standing Figure, valued at $2–4 million, the only private edition, alongside Matisse's Nu couché II ($1.2–1.8 million) and two works by Picasso. Proceeds will support SHARE Inc, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and The David Geffen Foundation.
Key facts
- Christie's will present 'The Joanna Carson Collection' during Spring Marquee Week in May.
- The collection includes works by Matisse, Degas, Picasso, and Henry Moore.
- Joanna Carson was married to Johnny Carson from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s.
- The couple lived in Bel Air; Joanna lived there until her death in 2025.
- A secondary jewelry collection will be offered separately in June.
- Henry Moore's Double Standing Figure has an estimate of $2–4 million.
- Matisse's Nu couché II is estimated at $1.2–1.8 million.
- Proceeds will benefit SHARE Inc, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and The David Geffen Foundation.
Entities
Artists
- Joanna Carson
- Johnny Carson
- Henri Matisse
- Edgar Degas
- Pablo Picasso
- Henry Moore
Institutions
- Christie's
- Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College
- SHARE Inc
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles
- The David Geffen Foundation Los Angeles
- Galerie Magazine
Locations
- Bel Air
- Los Angeles
- United States