Christie's will auction over 40 works from the collection of the late Stefan Edlis and his wife Gael Neeson, beginning with the 21st Century Evening Sale on 19 November and the Post-War & Contemporary Art Day Sale on 20 November in New York, with additional offerings continuing through 2026. The collection, housed in the couple's Chicago residence, includes iconic pieces by artists such as Ed Ruscha, Urs Fischer, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, and Diego Giacometti, reflecting a blend of avant-garde, Pop, and Art Deco design.
The sale matters because the Edlis | Neeson Collection is regarded as one of America's most important assemblages of post-war and contemporary art, built by collectors who prioritized humor, humanity, and cultural provocation over market trends. Edlis, a Holocaust survivor who fled Nazi Austria, and Neeson, a medical technician, were known as discerning leaders who championed challenging, joyful works that expanded definitions of art. Their collection's dispersal offers a rare opportunity to acquire pieces from a storied, cohesive vision that influenced the broader art world.