On May 21, Freeman’s | Hindman is proud to offer Post War and Contemporary Art from the Estate of Jordan and Cynthia Katz, a single-owner sale of approximately 39 lots representing over 30 years of passionate collecting. Featuring a curated selection of fresh-to-market paintings, prints, and sculptures, this auction promises to be a testament to the couple’s discerning taste and dedication to art of the 20th century.
Beginning as a modest art collection in the early 1980s, the Collection of Jordan and Cynthia Katz blossomed over the following decades under the guidance of gallerist Margaret Lipworth. The couple traveled to New York, London, and Palm Beach to visit the galleries and studios of the artists represented in this sale. Jordan was an amateur artist himself, creating paintings and sculptures that were inspired by the art in their collection. According to their daughter, the experience of collecting was an activity that gave them both great pleasure, and their art was proudly displayed on the walls of their three homes.
Within this meticulously curated private collection is a captivating group of works by renowned artists of the 20th century, such as Alex Katz, Tom Wesselmann and Lynn Chadwick. Each piece within this collection exemplifies contemporary art's diversity of aesthetics, methods, and expressions–the vibrancy of Katz's iconic figurative paintings features alongside the boldness of Wesselmann's Pop Art compositions and the emotive power of Chadwick's sculptural forms.
A notable highlight from the Katz collection is Rackstraw and Pamela, a tender study by Alex Katz for a much larger work from 1976. Known for his distinctive style–characterized by bold colors, simplified forms, and flattened compositions–Rackstraw and Pamela is a notable example of Katz's portraiture and showcases his unique approach to capturing the essence of his subjects. In this painting, Katz depicts realist painter Rackstraw Downes and his wife at the time, Pamela Berkley, who were both artists and friends of the painter. Set against the serene backdrop of coastal Maine, the composition is particularly striking due its close cropping, which eliminates extraneous details and focuses attention squarely on the sitters captured at an intimate moment. Seated together at a yellow picnic table, Rackstraw turns to Pamela, as the wind gently tousles their hair and their elbows gently touch. Despite the simplified forms, flat planes of color, and minimal shadow, there is depth and complexity to the figures, emphasizing both their individual personalities and the dynamic energy between them. The small-scale work is packed with emotion and Katz’s signature bravado.
Known for his bold and vibrant depictions of everyday objects, Tom Wesselmann often explored themes of consumer culture, sexuality, and the female form in his artwork. Bedroom Face with Tulip, a large work on paper from the Katz collection, exemplifies the artist’s distinctive style, featuring a graphic representation of a face alongside a tulip against the backdrop of a bedroom setting. Through the use of bright colors, simplified forms, and sharp lines, Wesselmann creates a visually striking composition that captures Pop Art's playful yet provocative aesthetic, and invites viewers to reconsider the familiar in a new light.
The Katz collection also features works from Lynn Chadwick’s sculptural œuvre. Lynn Chadwick was a British sculptor known for his innovative and dynamic abstract sculptures. He often created small-scale models–or maquettes–usually made from metal or bronze, that served as preliminary studies for his larger works.
The two angular seated figurines that comprise Maquette II Diamond (2 Figures) are a particularly enchanting example of Chadwick’s small-scale work. Each figure has their own identity and individual body shape–one has a more soft and feminine figure, featuring an accentuated waist and hips, subtle belly, and slender legs; while the other has much broader shoulders and a more traditionally masculine torso. Furthermore, each figure has a polished bronze face, which was a trait Chadwick would occasionally incorporate into his sculptures. These faces, often characterized by their smooth and reflective surfaces, exist in striking contrast to the sculpture's otherwise rough texture and sharp angles. Chadwick's use of polished bronze faces imbued his otherwise abstract compositions with humanity and introspection, creating a captivating interplay between the organic and the industrial within his art. The collection also includes a geometric candelabra, Three Branched Candle Holder III, which illustrates the expansiveness of Chadwick’s repertoire.
Together, these artworks contribute to the rich tapestry of the Collection of Jordan & Cynthia Katz, and invite viewers into a world where artistic innovation and expression flourish.
Featured Lots:
Lot 25 | Alex Katz (American, b. 1927) - Rackstraw and Pamela (Study)
Lot 30 | Tom Wesselmann (American, 1931-2004) - Bedroom Face with Tulip
Lot 11 | Lynn Chadwick (British, 1914-2003) - Maquette II Diamond (2 Figures)
Lot 12 | Lynn Chadwick (British, 1914-2003) - Three Branched Candle Holder III