The sales this summer revolve around two collections, one of which is truly magnificent: the Lewis Collection at Sotheby’s. Joe and Viv Lewis have been major figures in the art world for 40 years, and their voracious appetite for the work of Lucien Freud is legendary. Working alongside Acquavella Galleries—after Freud began exhibiting with Bill Acquavella in the mid-1990s—Lewis assembled one of the most important and visionary collections of the artist’s work. Indeed, the large painting of Sue Tilley in front of the lion rug might just be the finest work to appear since the Paul Allen picture that achieved $86m at Christie’s in 2022. The sale is also rich in Modern figurative masters: Modigliani is represented twice, alongside Picasso. The main gallery at Sotheby’s is filled with figures staring and brooding, gazing out at us from their frames with a kind of frozen superiority.
Among this remarkable group is a work I particularly love by Kasimir Malevich: a rare painting from 1911, created before the Russian Revolution. It depicts the large face of a peasant woman, her importance and vividly coloured shawl overriding any sense of status. It is a portrait that asserts her presence and dignity—a truly lovely, almost naïve work. Nearby hangs a fabulous Klimt portrait of Gertrud Loew, opposite the extraordinary Schiele Danaë. Altogether, it is a collection worthy of any museum, and I expect it to comfortably exceed its high estimate when it sells tomorrow evening.
Across Piccadilly, however, the pickings are not quite as strong. The Zabludowicz Collection is the main event, and while there are other works on offer, the principal multi-owner sales will take place in October. The standout piece here is a raw, eerie Philip Guston, Mirror Head, acquired in 2017, which serves as the centrepiece of an otherwise forward-thinking and courageous contemporary collection. It also includes strong works by Neo Rauch, Rashid Johnson, and a large Nara dog.
The sales and their site links are as follows:
Wednesday 24th June 2026
Sotheby’s London, Masterpieces from the Lewis Collection @ 1800 BST
Sotheby’s London, Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction @ 1900 BST
Thursday 25th June 2026
Sotheby’s London, Contemporary Day Auction @ 1200 BST
Sotheby’s London, Modern Day Auction including works from the Lewis Collection @ 1500 BST
Christie’s London, Beyond Ordinary: Works from the Zabludowicz Collection @ 1500 BST
Christie’s London, Post-War to Present @ 1630 BST
Friday 26th June 2026
Phillips London, Modern & Contemporary Art Evening & Afternoon Sale at 1400 BST
Enjoy the week and let OSFA know if we can help with any advice you may need.