Sotheby's to Auction Works From Jan & Maria Manetti Shrem's Collection

Philanthropists, artists, and entrepreneurs Jan & Maria Manetti Shrem have always held an appreciation and high admiration for art. Decades after collecting art pieces created by some of the most visionary and esteemed artists in art history, 17 of these exceptional works will now be up for offer in Sotheby's upcoming auction. Among this collection from these passionate collectors are breathtaking works by Óscar Domínguez, Odilon Redon, Bruce Nauman, Marc Quinn, Tony Smith, Lucio Fontana, and even a large-scale 1964 painting by Pablo Picasso.

The curation of these rarities should be no surprise, as Jan and Maria Manetti Shrem have always engaged in the art scene. Especially for Manetti Shrem, her love for art and its many forms bloomed during her adolescent years while growing up in Italy. When she was 15, she came across an outdoor opera performance of Giacomo Puccini’s "La Bohème" and was enamored by art and music (especially opera) ever since. In her thirties, Manetti Shrem made the brave decision to move to America, and while the change was a major adjustment, she was able to not only adapt but thrive. 

Her secret to success? Bringing Italian fashion to the American market. It was through her expertise that Italian brands such as Gucci and Fendi found a way to capture the attention of the American consumer and later on become global phenomenons. Her impact was undeniable —Bruna Gucci, the wife of Aldo Gucci, even nicknamed Manetti Shrem “Aldo Gucci in gonnella” (“Aldo Gucci in a skirt”).

An art devotee to her core, Manetti Shrem did not just show her passion for the fashion world. She would establish lifelong friendships with artists across various mediums including Jeff Koons, Olafur Eliason, Peter Gelb, Renée Fleming, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, and Nadine Sierra, among many others. The Shrems even opened an award-winning art museum in San Francisco, in which contemporary artists are onboarded to teach and inspire the next generation of young talent.

But perhaps their most impactful work has been their philanthropic efforts. Through the couple's combined extensive network of contacts in the art world, the Shrems have done considerable work giving back to the community. Having supported over 40 charitable initiatives in the realms of fine arts, medical research, music, and education, their dedication to philanthropy is unsurpassed. 

What makes each of these auctioned pieces particularly special are the personal stories behind them. When Manetti Shrem furnished the grounds of her Tuscan-style Villa in the '90s, she decorated the area with magnificent sculptures from the works of Marc Quinn and Richard Long — some pieces that will be included in the auction. Picasso's rare 1964 painting depicting his nude reclining wife and the couple's newly-adopted cat is only one of 10 Piccaso's series of nude paintings, in which it's been four decades since an example has last appeared in an auction.

The vivid blue canvas by Fontana was created in the last year of the artist's life while Domínguez's "Le plus du temps II" was painted at the peak of World War II, in the midst of Nazi-occupied Paris. Each art piece has its own story, and perfectly depicts the wholesome appreciation Jan & Manetti Shrem has for artists across all expertise.

Staying true to their charitable spirits, sale proceeds from the auction will benefit the scientific and artistic causes that the couple cares deeply about. 

The collection will be up for auction this May in New York.