ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Sotheby's to Auction Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Private Collection

market-auction · 2026-04-27

Sotheby's Paris will auction the private collection of Christo and Jeanne-Claude in February 2021 under the title 'Unwrapped'. Over 50 years, the artist duo amassed more than 400 works that filled their New York home-studio, including pieces by Lucio Fontana, Yves Klein, Mimmo Rotella, and Andy Warhol. A 1964 Warhol portrait of Jackie Kennedy, kept near their kitchen, is valued at nearly $1 million. The collection also features a 1919 Hoge Armchair by Gerrit Rietveld, acquired in exchange for one of their wrapped packages, and vinyl sculptures from Claes Oldenburg. Proceeds from the auction will go to a foundation in their name and fund their final project: wrapping the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, scheduled for September 2021. Studio manager Lorenza Giovanelli noted that each piece held personal significance. The total collection is estimated at over $4 million.

Key facts

  • Sotheby's Paris will auction the collection in February 2021 as 'Unwrapped'.
  • The collection includes over 400 works accumulated over 50 years.
  • Artists represented include Lucio Fontana, Yves Klein, Mimmo Rotella, and Andy Warhol.
  • A 1964 Warhol portrait of Jackie Kennedy is valued at nearly $1 million.
  • A 1919 Hoge Armchair by Gerrit Rietveld was acquired through barter.
  • Vinyl sculptures by Claes Oldenburg are also in the collection.
  • Proceeds will fund a foundation and the wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe.
  • The total collection is estimated at over $4 million.

Entities

Artists

  • Christo Javacheff
  • Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon
  • Lucio Fontana
  • Yves Klein
  • Mimmo Rotella
  • Andy Warhol
  • Gerrit Rietveld
  • Claes Oldenburg
  • Lorenza Giovanelli

Institutions

  • Sotheby's
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Paris
  • France
  • New York
  • United States
  • Milan
  • Italy
  • Central Park
  • Lake Iseo
  • Reichstag
  • Berlin
  • Germany
  • Arc de Triomphe

Sources