The legendary Surrealist collection of the late Pauline Karpidas, a renowned art patron and collector, will be auctioned at Sotheby's London in September 2025. The sale spans approximately 250 lots from her eccentric London home, featuring masterworks by René Magritte, Leonora Carrington, Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, and Les Lalannes. The collection is expected to fetch over £60 million ($81 million), the highest estimate ever placed on a single collection at Sotheby's Europe. Highlights include Magritte's 'La Statue volante' (1940–41), estimated at £9–12 million, and works acquired directly from the estates of Surrealist figures like André Breton and Paul Éluard.
This sale matters because it represents one of the deepest and most comprehensive troves of Surrealist art ever to come to market, offering a rare glimpse into the collecting vision of a singular patron. Karpidas, often compared to Peggy Guggenheim and Dominique de Menil, built her collection with guidance from legendary dealer Alexander Iolas, and the auction will chart the movement's influence through contemporary works by Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. The event underscores the enduring market strength of Surrealist masterpieces, following Magritte's record-breaking $121.2 million sale at Christie's in 2024.