This September, Sotheby’s London will present what it calls the “greatest collection of Surrealism to emerge in recent history”—the extraordinary private collection of British socialite, arts
patron, and collector Pauline Karpidas. Scheduled for auction on September 17 and 18, the sale is estimated to bring in £60 million ($81 million), marking the highest valuation ever placed on a single-owner collection in Sotheby’s European history.
The collection includes iconic works by Surrealist masters such as René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Leonora Carrington, and Max Ernst, as well as standout pieces by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Niki de Saint Phalle, Yves Tanguy, and Dorothea Tanning. The offering also features distinctive furniture pieces that once adorned Karpidas’ London residence.
Karpidas’ passion for collecting began five decades ago, sparked by her meeting with influential Greek American gallerist Alexander Iolas, who championed many major 20th-century artists, including Magritte and Warhol. “Ever since my journey into the arts began, I have had the great honour of meeting a world of wonderful individuals who have made this collection possible,” Karpidas reflected. “I’ve always seen myself as a temporary custodian. Now feels like the right moment for these works to find their next generation of caretakers.”
Sotheby’s Europe chairman Oliver Barker described Karpidas as part of the lineage of legendary collectors. “There is simply no other collection like that of Pauline Karpidas,” he said, calling the upcoming sale “one of the highlights” of his career. “This is a window into a special world of boldness, conviction, and insatiable curiosity.”
Karpidas, who was born in Manchester and later settled in Athens after marrying Greek shipping magnate Constantinos Karpidas, has long been known for her personal connections to the artists she collected. Her eye and passion for art have earned her a prominent place in the art world.
This isn’t the first time her collection has made headlines. In October 2023, Sotheby’s Paris hosted a highly successful sale of works from the Karpidas’ Greek island home in Hydra, which brought in over €35 million ($40 million)—the highest single-owner auction in France that year.
The upcoming London sale follows a year of renewed global attention on Surrealism, which celebrated its centennial in 2024. Landmark exhibitions and record-breaking auction results—such as the $121.2 million sale of Magritte’s L’empire des lumières at Christie’s—have fueled a resurgence of interest in the movement.
Highlights from Karpidas’ collection will be on public display at Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries starting September 8, offering a rare glimpse into a life built around art and the enduring legacy of Surrealism. Photo by Zeisterre, Wikimedia commons.