The Collection of Agnes Gund Comes to Christie's

Why It Matters

Gund’s blend of high‑value art transactions with targeted philanthropy redefines the collector’s role, urging the art market to align profit with social impact.

Key Takeaways

• Agnes Gund leverages art sales to fund social justice
• Her $165 million Roy Lichtenstein sale supports prison reform
• Gund’s philanthropy enriches over one million schoolchildren through programs
• She champions diversity and emerging artists in major institutions
• Christie’s exhibition showcases her collection’s cultural and activist impact

Summary

Christie's latest showcase spotlights the legendary collector Agnes Gund, whose decades‑long patronage has reshaped both museum boards and public‑school art programs. The exhibition not only displays masterpieces ranging from Abstract Expressionism to contemporary works, but also frames Gund’s recent decision to sell Roy Lichtenstein’s 1962 “Masterpiece” for $165 million, directing the proceeds toward criminal‑justice reform.

Gund’s philanthropy extends beyond high‑profile sales. In 1991 she became MoMA president, championed diversity, and founded the Studio in a School initiative, which has reached more than one million children by embedding working artists in classrooms. Her commitment to empathy as a catalyst for justice underpins every acquisition and donation.

The film interweaves poignant remarks such as “Without empathy there is no justice” and “She sold what she loved most to take action,” illustrating how personal passion translates into systemic change. Curators emphasize that assembling a collection of this caliber while leveraging it for social impact is unprecedented.

For collectors, institutions, and investors, Gund’s model signals a new paradigm where art serves as both cultural capital and a vehicle for societal reform, prompting the market to weigh ethical outcomes alongside monetary value.

Original Description

For Agnes Gund, art and activism were never separate pursuits.

Over decades she supported artists, institutions and educational initiatives, believing deeply that culture could shape society. But in 2019, she made one of her most powerful statements yet.

Gund sold Roy Lichtenstein’s 'Masterpiece', a painting she had lived with for years, to launch the Art for Justice Fund — an initiative that would distribute $125 million in grants to artists and advocates working to reform the American criminal justice system.

It was a gesture that captured her lifelong conviction: that art is not only something to admire, but something that can move the world forward.

This May, three masterworks from the Collection of Agnes Gund will be offered at Christie’s: Mark Rothko’s 'No. 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe),' acquired directly from the artist; Cy Twombly’s 'Untitled,' painted in 1961 at the height of his expressive powers; and Joseph Cornell’s 'Untitled (Medici Princess)’, from what is widely considered his most important body of work.

🔗 Explore the story of Agnes Gund and her philanthropic legacy: https://www.christies.com/en/events/the-collection-of-agnes-gund?cid=EM_SM_O_IG_Inc_MSLP____2021CNY0525_AgnesGund___VID_LinkInBio