Art

Lichtenstein Family Collection to Headline Sotheby’s May Sales

Sotheby’s will auction over 40 Roy Lichtenstein works from the artist’s family collection this May, with an estimated value of $35 million.

Por: Angela Leon Cervera April 23, 2025

This May, Sotheby’s will offer a landmark consignment of over 40 works by Roy Lichtenstein, directly from the artist’s family collection. Spanning four decades and multiple media—including painting, sculpture, drawing, and printmaking—the sale represents one of the most significant offerings of the Pop Art icon’s work in recent memory, with a combined estimate exceeding $35 million.

The consignment includes Lichtenstein’s reinterpretations of modernism, surrealism, and homages to Picasso, Monet, and Calder, offering a comprehensive view of the artist’s range beyond comic-strip graphics. These works will be auctioned across Sotheby’s Contemporary Evening and Day Sales in New York.

What Are the Top Lots in the Sale?

Among the highlights is Reflections: Art (1988), estimated at $4 million–$6 million, and Woman: Sunlight, Moonlight (1996), a painted wood sculpture also estimated at $4 million–$6 million. The 1968 painting Stretcher Frame with Cross Bars III is expected to bring $2.5 million–$3.5 million.

Also of note is Bonsai Tree (1993), a painted pewter and patinated bronze sculpture appearing at auction for only the second time. The last sale, in 1997, saw an edition go for $266,500, far surpassing its high estimate of $180,000.

How Did the November Lichtenstein Sale Shape This Strategy?

This expanded sale follows the success of Sotheby’s November 2023 Lichtenstein auction, which achieved nearly $25 million (including fees) on a high estimate of $15 million. Ten of the eleven lots exceeded their high estimates. Notable results included:

Nude with Bust (Study) (1995), which fetched $4.56 million
Nude with Yellow Pillow and Roommates (1994), both prints, each selling for $1.2 million—more than triple their high estimates
Small House (1997), a painted aluminum sculpture, sold for $1.14 million.

According to David Galperin, Sotheby’s Vice Chairman and Head of Contemporary Art, the decision to bring a larger grouping to market was based on strong demand and “a lot of unmet enthusiasm” from global collectors.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys)

Is There a Risk of Market Saturation?

When asked if over 40 lots could overwhelm the market, Galperin responded that the May offering complements—not duplicates—the previous sale.

“This group provides a different perspective on Roy Lichtenstein’s incredibly prodigious career,” he explained, highlighting that bidding last fall came from North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

He added: “Lichtenstein has become an artist whose work carries universal renown and appeal, like Picasso, Warhol, and Calder. The elements of joy, humor, and beauty really resonate globally.”

Yes. Highlights from the Lichtenstein collection will be on view in Hong Kong from April 18 to 23, before returning to New York for public exhibition ahead of Sotheby’s May auctions.

The sale arrives ahead of a major Roy Lichtenstein retrospective at the Whitney Museum in 2026, expected to further cement the artist’s global legacy.

Roy Lichtenstein at Sotheby’s May 2025

How many works are included in the sale? Over 40 works spanning painting, sculpture, drawing, and prints.
What is the total estimate? The collection is estimated to achieve more than $35 million.
What are the top lots? Reflections: Art, Woman: Sunlight, Moonlight, and Stretcher Frame with Cross Bars III.
Where can I preview the works? In Hong Kong (April 18–23) and New York prior to the May sales.
Is this the largest offering of Lichtenstein works at auction? It’s one of the most substantial direct-from-family offerings in recent years.

With over 40 works crossing the block, the Dorothy and Roy Lichtenstein Collection sale at Sotheby’s offers an extraordinary look into the artist’s four-decade practice.

From modernist tributes to iconic Pop compositions, this auction affirms Lichtenstein’s place among the most enduring figures in contemporary art history.