NEW YORK – This May, Christie’s is honored to present A Century of Art: The Gerald Fineberg Collection: a rich and nuanced collection of modern, post-war and contemporary art and photography that will be presented as a standalone two-part auction during the 20/21 Century sales season in New York. Beginning with a painting by Man Ray of the muse of Modernity, Kiki de Montparnasse in 1923, the collection covers 100 years of art, exploring the most important art historical movements of the 20th century alongside interstitial parts of the canon.

With works by artists of color, women artists, and previously undervalued creators such as Barkley Hendricks, Beauford Delaney, Ruth Asawa, Alma Thomas, and Alice Neel, the collection offers a diverse and inclusive look at artistic production over the last century. It also includes a phenomenal selection of photography, exploring the medium in depth from Diane Arbus to Robert Mapplethorpe.

Having first moved to Boston after serving in the Navy, Gerald Fineberg (or Jerry, as he was known to his friends) had a significant impact upon the region’s commercial and cultural landscape. His sharp business instincts led him to build a successful real estate empire, as well as a portfolio of hotels. His devotion to family and community was embodied in his unwavering commitment to The Price Center in Newton, a program that provides day and residential services to people with intellectual and cognitive differences. He was deeply dedicated to Massachusetts’ art institutions, notably serving on the boards of the Rose Art Museum and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. At the latter, the monumental Gerald and Sandra Fineberg Art Wall continues to provide a ground-breaking space for new installations by contemporary artists.

In much the same way as he lived his life, Gerald Fineberg thought both widely and deeply about art. Beginning in the 1980s, he embarked upon a lifelong adventure: from encountering Jean -Michel Basquiat at a gallery opening in New York, to visiting Andy Warhol’s Factory in the months before the artist’s death. His collection is an extension of a life’s work guided by innovation, inclusivity and imagination, always with one eye on the future.

Leading collection highlights include: Badende a figurative masterpiece from 1967 painting by Gerhard Richter (estimate: $15,000,000 – 20,000,000), Christopher Wool’s Untitled rare multicolored text painting (estimate: $15,000,000 – 20,000,000), Buste d’homme lauré painted by Pablo Picasso in 1969 (estimate: in the region of $9,000,000-12,000,000). In total, the collection is expected to total in excess of $270,000,000.

Sara Friedlander, Christie's Deputy Chairman, 20th and 21st Century Art, remarks, "Jerry bought art like a curator and built a collection that challenged the norms of what defined art history in th e 20th century. It is a captivating and dynamic collection of contemporary and modern art, representative of key movements including Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Gutai, Pop, Minimalism, the Picture's Generation and Arte Povera. He collected all of the ‘Ninth Street Women’ artists and went deep into the artists at Black Mountain College. This is undoubtably the defining collection of the season and the envy of every museum. We are honored to bring it to market this Spring.”

Global Tour Schedule:

• London | 16-20 March
• Hong Kong | 3-6 April
• San Francisco | 12-15 April
• Palm Beach | 14-19 April
• Los Angeles | 17-20 April