The Facts
On September 8, 2026, Christie's announced it will present the collection of legendary record executive Clive Davis, with eight artworks headlining the 20th Century Evening Sale during November's Fall Marquee Week. Additional works will be offered in the Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale in November and the Prints and Multiples sale in October. The collection, featuring pieces by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Hockney, Joan Mitchell, and others, is expected to realize in excess of $35 million. A Warhol portrait of Aretha Franklin, executed circa 1986, carries an estimate of $2 million to $3 million.
The Signal
The sale offers a rare window into the collecting instincts of a music executive who applied the same discernment to visual art as he did to discovering artists like Bruce Springsteen and Whitney Houston. For collectors, the Davis collection underscores the enduring appeal of post-war and contemporary masters, with estimates that may attract both seasoned buyers and music-industry figures seeking a piece of cultural history. The strong overall estimate signals confidence in the market for blue-chip works with provenance tied to iconic tastemakers.
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- Artists: Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Fernando Botero, Jean Dubuffet, David Hockney, Hans Hofmann, Alex Katz, Joan Mitchell, Frank Stella
- People: Clive Davis, Sara Friedlander
- Auction Houses: Christie's
- Locations: New York
- Prices: $2 million – 3 million, $35 million
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