Marcel Brient's contemporary art collection to be auctioned at Sotheby's

The famed contemporary art collection of Marcel Brient will star at a Sotheby's Paris sale on September 25.

Simon Hantai Study 1969
Brient's collection documents French creation since the 1960s


Brient, who has been described as "intuitive and free-thinking" by Sotheby's, has been amassing his outstanding collection since the 1960s, with a focus on the work of respected French artists. However, nationality is not the only deciding factor for Brient's collection - he reportedly prefers works discovered by chance and enjoys those linked to history in an extraordinary way.

He is revered as a pioneering collector and was one of the first to buy works from now-popular artists such as Jeff Koons, John Currin and Felix Gonzales-Torres.

The top lot of the auction will be provided by Simon Hantai's 1969 painting, Study, which originates from the renowned series that he created as leader of the Support/Surface movement. One of several highly coveted canvases that were folded, crumpled and soaked in colour by Hantai, it is expected to bring €250,000-350,000 ($308,000-431,000).

A number of works from the leading Nouveax Réalistes artists are also set to feature, with a tree made from plastic bottles from Martial Raysse leading bids at €200,000-300,000. A wrapped-up push chair created in 1962 by Christo will follow, with a €120,000-180,000 estimate.

With the recent ArtNews 200 report stating that a massive 87% of the world's leading art buyers collect contemporary art, and the respected Mei Moses index showing a 2.7% increase in value for works from the sector since the start of the year, Brient can expect strong results from his collection.

Check back will Paul Fraser Collectibles for more of the latest from the world of art collecting.

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