Sherman’s contemporary art collection up for sale
One hundred works from Gene and Brian Sherman’s Collection - one of Australia’s most important contemporary art collections – will be offered for sale this May.
A substantial number of significant and deeply personal works from Gene and Brian Sherman’s contemporary art collection will shortly become available in the forthcoming auction – SHERMAN | 100.
Gene Sherman, one of Australia’s most respected philanthropists and art collectors, has, together with her beloved husband Brian, passionately and astutely collected some 900 pieces from significant Australian, Asian and international artists.
The Shermans have generously gifted numerous large-scale works of art to many cultural institutions including MOMA in New York, TATE Modern in London, Art Gallery of NSW, National Gallery of Australia, Sydney University’s Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Melbourne and several regional galleries. The SHERMAN | 100 sale is a carefully curated selection of mostly intimate works that cluster around the often-monumental pieces remaining in the Family Foundation and, via past and ongoing donations, held in significant public collections.
“It has been a deep joy to have developed lifelong friendships with so many wonderful creative practitioners,” Gene said. “Now is the time to be editing and reducing our extensive collection to core museum-scale work – simplifying our lifelong collecting endeavours and setting the stage for future generations.”
Auction highlights include a bust by Ah Xian titled Chine China, a photograph by Shaun Gladwell titled Slowburn and Calligraphy, and artwork by Tim Storrier titled The Carcass, which is expected to fetch between $80,000 and $120,000.
“The Sherman Collection has been accumulated over a lifetime with a complex and layered connection to many acclaimed artists,” Director of Bonhams Australia, Merryn Schriever said. “The Shermans are renowned for collecting key artists’ work in-depth, and often from the early stages of the artist’s development. For example, Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF, 2008-2017) presented Ai Weiwei’s first-ever major solo exhibition, and Gene recognised Shaun Gladwell’s prodigious talent at Art School and has supported and acquired the artist’s work throughout his career.”
SHERMAN | 100 includes work by Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan, Shaun Gladwell, Petrina Hick, Zhang Huan, Janet Laurence, Mike Parr, Greg Semu, Tim Storrier, Imants Tillers, Guan Wei, Ai Weiwei and more.
For more information, visit the live auction site.
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