Phillips to auction de Kooning and Richter from Marcel Brient collection

Phillips has announced highlights from its 20th Century & Contemporary Art evening sale in London on March 2, led by two abstract works from the collection of French collector Marcel Brient. Willem de Kooning's Untitled (1984), estimated at £7-9 million, reflects his East Hampton landscapes. Gerhard Richter's Mathis (1983), estimated at £10-15 million, belongs to a series of four abstract paintings named after individuals. Both works debut at auction without guarantees. Brient, a major collector of contemporary art and design, started his collection when works were inexpensive. Cheyenne Westphal, Global Chairwoman of Phillips, noted the works represent a dialogue on abstraction across generations. Richter's auction record is £30.4 million for Abstraktes Bild (1986) at Sotheby's London in 2015; de Kooning's is $68.9 million for Woman as Landscape (1955) at Christie's New York in 2018. The works will preview in Paris and Antwerp before the London sale.