The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., is proceeding with plans to auction major works by Georgia O'Keeffe, Arthur Dove, and Georges Seurat at Sotheby's on November 20, despite sharp backlash from former curators, members of the Phillips family, and the museum's non-governing members body. The works—including O'Keeffe's *Large Dark Red Leaves on White* (estimate $6–8 million), Seurat's conté crayon drawing ($3–5 million), and Dove's *Rose and Locust Stump* ($1.2–1.8 million)—are considered central to founder Duncan Phillips's vision. Director and CEO Jonathan Binstock argues the proceeds will fund a permanently restricted endowment for commissioning new work by living artists, acquisitions, and collection care, aligning with Duncan Phillips's belief in supporting contemporary practitioners.
This controversy matters because it reflects a broader national debate over deaccessioning in museums, where institutions face financial pressures and shifting priorities. The Phillips Collection's sales follow similar moves by the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Baltimore Museum of Art, and SFMOMA, which have sold major works to diversify collections or bolster endowments. Critics argue that selling foundational masterworks violates public trust and risks sanctions, while proponents see deaccessioning as a necessary tool for keeping collections relevant. The dispute has led to tightened future deaccessioning rules at the Phillips, with works listed in the 1985 summary catalogue now protected unless a special exception is granted.