The Art Collection of David Bowie

David Bowie’s music has inspired people all over the world, but what inspired David Bowie?
Join us on a journey around the world as we explore five pieces from David Bowie’s art collection and discover the impact the art he collected had on Bowie's own artistic output.
03:31 Part 1: The Head of Gerda Boehm
06:05 Part 2: Portrait of a Man
07:34 Part 3: The Valentine Typewriter
09:09 Part 4: Austria’s National Holiday
11:33 Part 5: Alexandra
© Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York.
Works by Frank Auerbach © The artist, courtesy Geoffrey Parton.
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[@SothebysInstitute]

Did you learn something about David Bowie that you didn’t know before? Share your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to be alerted when we publish new art documentaries.

[@sweetbermudaonions60]

Being a HUGE fan of his music and his creativity, nothing about David really surprised me, but I admit he opened a lot of doors that I didn't even know existed. He was an extraordinary creative being.

[@SothebysInstitute]

@@sweetbermudaonions60 Thank you for sharing!

[@theoryofpersonality1420]

Yes, he had no taste or class.

[@judyo923]

His devotion to Art pleasing him - as opposed to an investment, made my heart soar. God, I miss that man.

[@pushthetempo2]

Thank you for this documentary bit. It was v well made. I saw the exhibition at Sotheby’s, one of the best shows I’ve ever been to! I will never forget it. Love the Auerbach and the art deco stereo system.

[@golden1789]

What a shame the collection was broken up. So many would have visited a special museum.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Absolutely. Make a nonprofit, take the ticket sales after costs and do some good in the world. Meanwhile rich jerks now own all this art, nobody sees it, and they’ll end up profiting only the wealthy. None of which Bowie would have been in favor of.

[@TopHatNat]

Top comment right here! So rude and greedy to break up his collection for money !!!

[@davidjohnrivingtonmcdonough]

Not I, those of us that are enlightened know he is a #satanist take care.

[@russellsnodgrass9374]

Totally agree! Real shame not making it all part of a David Bowie museum. The same thing happened to Andy Warhol's marvelous life collection of art and oddities. Capitalism and Art, like oil and water, just don't blend well.

[@BabyJesus66]

​@@russellsnodgrass9374they blend perfectly. Art is a commodity.

[@orpheus9037]

My guess is he also had a terrific book and record collection as well. Much like his art, he likely felt a very strong bond with the music and literature that influenced him. Someday we'll hear more about those.

[@mister3566]

He was an avid reader who had a regular bookshop he visited

[@pushthetempo2]

I think you can get a list of his favourite books online somewhere. Bowie net maybe

[@mister3566]

@@pushthetempo2 Yes

[@photonjiagu]

I discovered something interesting about Bowie's last album "Blackstar." The cover art is a tribute to Jo Baer's painting "White Star" (which is black). Kind of an easter egg that as far as I know nobody noticed. I wonder if he knew her or had any of her art in his collection. Reply here is anyone knows the answer. Update: I just found an article in The Smithsonian Archive of American Art where she said she had given a lecture around 2010 in which she used a slide of David Bowie in clown makeup. The album was his swan song released shortly before his death from cancer in 2016.

[@user-fd1yc3dd6n]

how can you have a f....kin White Star and call it Black Plonkerology here

[@agomodern]

LOL No, it was his anthem to Satan to whom he sold his soul.

[@dougalexander7204]

Rest well David.

[@kaylagoldstein4248]

I didn't know Bowie wrote for Modern Painters. How cool!

[@ypure3859]

it used to be a great art magazine...then it all changed..format..writing..ads..a shame

[@annetterohla8932]

Same thing happened to Architectural Digest.

[@harriotteworthington3147]

Thank you for keeping his vital spirit in the foreground. David Bowie was a multifaceted genius, and he will live on through his many artistic expressions and legacies.

[@Sharperthanu1]

Now if he had just been genius enough to to have not smoked all those cigarettes.

[@chantalrochon3566]

👏 ❤Bravo! Mr. Bowie for your keen eyes❤

[@dimaermolenko98]

In this video they Interview his Art Buyer. He didn't decide to buy all that by himself alone. I mean it's in the video. They Interview the person who was payed ro helped him buy art.

[@copperhen2499]

I love how the theme of his art collection changed with his life, such as where he lived, his various personas, and his then-current artistic obsessions. I was aware of his vast art collection, but to see the true variety is very interesting.

[@SothebysInstitute]

Great observation! Which piece from his collection did you find most interesting?

[@copperhen2499]

@@SothebysInstituteThat’s a difficult question; I’d have to say I love “Head of Gerda Boehm” because of its significance to him, as well as how dream-like it appears to be. There’s an overall feeling of serenity to it that I enjoy. It truly does look similar to how his music sounds.

[@ginafriend1690]

An interesting, exotic, abstract soul. A piece of Art himself!

[@johneeeemarry34]

Generic predictable comment… Devoid of humanity, liked by mediocre art history graduate.

[@olgat.155]

What an amazingly interesting video. Being a fan of Bowie, no wonder his collection was as special as him.

[@SothebysInstitute]

Thank you for watching. Which piece from his collection did you find most interesting?

[@NikoOkamoto]

I knew Bowie collected art, but didn't know to what extent. This was all new information to me.

[@SothebysInstitute]

Which piece from his collection was your favorite?

[@sidsmiff]

@@SothebysInstitute I’ll reply to that. The Head of Gerda Boehm. I have no idea why. It makes me feel uneasy but its also deeply hypnotic and a bit dream like.

[@joyousracket8767]

I don’t know that I learned some thing new about David Bowie that I didn’t before. (The documentary “Five Years“, by Director Francis Whately, had already greatly expanded my understanding of him as an artist.) Having said that…I absolutely love it that he wanted to meet the artists, talk to them and better understand where their art was coming from. Sort of a combination of art appreciation coupled with ‘research and development’. Sort of like, “I love this piece. What can I steal from the ideas, intention and execution behind this piece?” :-) I feel so lucky to have lived on the planet at the same time he did.

[@ivorytower99]

Intense! I had-to *Share!

[@karllessig384]

I miss you David. Thank you for giving me a soundtrack to my life.

[@robertafierro5592]

The Turntable setup is just awesome! He was really something, on and off the stage..he was a True Artist..Long Live David Bowie and his following, which were in the Millions!

[@swankeeper5679]

The Basquiat, of course is my favorite.

[@JCarrera27]

5:16 maybe it's just me but i see the inspiration for the Outside album cover👩🏼‍🎤 Always interesting to see the other artistic sides of Bowie

[@ErictheBarber1]

This has been one of my favorite videos I've watched in a while! Ive always been interested in Bowies own personal art as well as the art he enjoyed! Thanks for a great video. I did notice that the skyline used is actually Nashville and not Memphis, but close enough lol.

[@imperialdagger]

(Reminds me of my visit to an upscale “New York” steak house in Bangkok. The logo for the restaurant featured everywhere was actually the Chicago skyline. Lol)

[@jude1515]

I love this video. I didn’t know this about David Bowie. What an interesting person he was.

[@outsidethepyramid]

Bowie was art itself

[@Za7a7aZ]

Dont you think thsat these stupendous prices his art got sold for has to do because they were David choices and owned by him...and not because of the sudden appreciation of the artist?

[@peterduncan5034]

This was far too short! One aspect of Bowie that is rarely mentioned is that he introduced so many people to art in general. While my school mates were reading war comics I was trying to read Nietzsche and checking out who Egon Schiele was. Cheers David.

[@angelajsacaartistaffiliatedwpl]

Amazing didn’t know this. Beautiful artwork.

[@SothebysInstitute]

Which piece was your favorite?

[@angelajsacaartistaffiliatedwpl]

@@SothebysInstitute the brown face looking sad.head of Geada nome think I spelled wrong was just showing my husband thx sir.

[@paul_domici]

This was soooo interesting!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@jakemoeller7850]

RIP Ziggy

[@milootje007]

Very interesting, thank you for that.

[@SothebysInstitute]

Thank you for watching. We're glad you found it interesting.

[@outsidethepyramid]

a really well put together video

[@monkeygraborange]

Imagine working at Sotheby’s when your name is Christie?

[@susanfarley1332]

After hearing that Vincent Price collected artwork I have always been curious about what he collected. Any chance you might be doing anything about his collection?

[@Just-a-guy926]

The photo of Memphis is actually Nashville.

[@panochaGremlin]

this reminds that powerful talented and wealthy people can be just as passionate about the art and have a good taste

[@evelynramos445]

Really great!

[@nyshanelson2252]

Interesting stuff. Though seems like an amateur mistake to use an image of Nashville when referencing Memphis, TN when talking about the Memphis Group Art Movement. (And how it had nothing to do with Memphis, Tennessee.)

[@sonnycorbi4316]

VERY GOOD! THANK YOU

[@SothebysInstitute]

Thank you for watching. We're glad you enjoyed our video.

[@DennisZanone]

The room of Memphis design pieces is my collection in my home that I sold in 2019 through Wright Auction in Chicago.

[@BabyJesus66]

Nobody cares

[@johneeeemarry34]

Breaking in next week, already have a buyer waiting.

[@zlatko216]

Excellent Art collection ,more exclusive Modern Arts !

[@pbfey]

FYI Sotheby’s: when you mentioned Memphis TN you showed…Nashville.

[@r8chlletters]

It’s very sad to see this singular collection sold off to the highest bidder. I don’t believe he would have wanted that.

[@sslaytor]

On the other hand - it was probably in his will!

[@JanetBirdFuller]

Outstanding video of an epic art collection.

[@SothebysInstitute]

Thank you for watching. We're so glad to hear you enjoyed it.

[@MomentsGap]

Do they mention Odd Nerdrum work he had??

[@sabihatanveer8494]

😍David ⚘

[@johnbarcus4042]

8:08: A picture of Nashville. :D

[@Runconna]

Know he was a collector of Odd Nerdrum's work. I assume your video only shows a small portion of his collection.

[@SothebysInstitute]

Yes, there is much more!

[@ivanklymenko]

🤩🤩🤩

[@utopiansurveillancemenace]

You guys showed a still of Nashville when mentioning Memphis, TN.

[@indigosunset70]

you should do the art collection of dennis hopper next

[@Meryartist]

I woulda thought his family would’ve kept at least that one painting that I oh I’m so much 😢

[@HTNPSullivan]

The video says they auctioned 65 percent of his collection. I suspect Iman kept works that she felt represented the David she knew and loved, as well as pieces she responded to personally, and maybe some as investments for later in her life, or to give to their children. That painting that Bowie had in all his homes may have been too disturbing to her. But she didn't sell all of his collection.

[@JohnAdorjan]

8:07 is Nashville not Memphis TN.

[@markusmaler-fm2qt]

❤

[@avidodd26]

i want a video where you just show the damn art and maybe play a Bowie tune or two in the background

[@susanfarley1332]

Agree, I would love to see more of the art.

[@peterduncan5034]

Perhaps make such a video yourself?, I'd watch it!

[@avidodd26]

@@peterduncan5034 i dont have access to the art collection.

[@teuilagracetualaulelei1609]

Fascinating, 🙏 thank you🌺

[@SothebysInstitute]

Thank you for watching!

[@blissedher]

That skyline was Nashville, not Memphis.

[@Aspi-vision]

the man has great taste in art !

[@SothebysInstitute]

Which piece was your favorite?

[@Aspi-vision]

@@SothebysInstitute Koskoff ,fischer ,Norman Catherine . But the whole collection is well curated for sure ! There is no lesser work in it . Thank you for asking !

[@richardnolan3903]

I'm disappointed that they didn't show any of Bowies paintings by Odd Nerdrum. He mentioned in an interview that he owned several of his works, but didn't say which ones.

[@MrZZooh]

No Beksinki, ha? I thought maybe the devestated landscape in post WW2 London would have made him like Beksinki's stuff.

[@mambakuroii8125]

I wonder what pieces of art he brought from Japan also

[@haret0n]

why was it sold?

[@starcrib]

A collection of curatorial brilliance- a fantastical trajectory of 20th century wealth and being a cultural juggernaut of misanthropic everything. What a life.🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦⬜️🟦🟦🟦

[@remodernist]

i'd say the heroes image is more Schiele than Heckel

[@agomodern]

Ironic they put in the clip of someone saying that anyone would make the pilgrimage to see Bowie's collection on a video by a company where it is their job to break up collections to the highest bidder.

[@robinlindberg6339]

I understand he designed wallpaper once.

[@NickPenlee]

This video doesn't proffer too many surprises regarding Bowie's taste in art. I instinctively knew the artists who occupied the walls of his homes. Not many Gainsboroughs, Bouguereau's or Helen Allingham's in his collection!

[@evelynramos445]

Bowie was curatorial

[@evelynramos445]

The Germany artists and figurative of early 20th.

[@agomodern]

Obviously they were lucrative investments for a super star, guaranteed to sell for way more than their actual monetary value, being that they were part of Bowie's personal collection.

[@satsumamoon]

Well that was interesting.

[@SothebysInstitute]

Thank you for watching. Which part did you find most interesting?

[@satsumamoon]

@@SothebysInstitute Davids relationship to art.

[@TomCrockett-bl1gp]

The artists should get a vig. Don't you think?

[@philipclan4558]

Bowie and van Dongen ?

[@robertafierro5592]

If you look very closely you can see all.the nicotine in-between the minute cracks within the oil paint!

[@B_rye8]

Can you do Freddie Mercury?

[@SothebysInstitute]

That is a great idea!

[@johneeeemarry34]

I did Freddie , now I have HIV AIDS.

[@vlad2838]

This collection signifies Dame’s grim determination to, in his mind, stay relevant as his own work became shite.

[@user-lb4cg3ty5w]

Bowie had a split personality. Much like Alistair Crowley. In fact, like Crowley he wanted to be the wicked witch of the west.

[@giancarlomartinez5630]

Forcing me to put my creative skills to THEIR use and feed THEIR egos (amongst lots of other shit), I grew up to hate my parents with a passion.

[@dawnsalois]

Why did Iman sell the Auerbach?. It was his favorite piece and one of his children should have gotten it, even if it was depressing. It represented a part of his psyche. Maybe it had bad memories, but someone should have received it from the estate. Same thing for "Valentine". It wouldnt have taken up much space. He used it for inspiration to write. It was Not just an art piece. Hope a charity got some benefit from the collection's sale.

[@edwassermann8368]

Why tf was it sold in the first place after he was gone??? Why wouldn't his family keep it together and maybe exhibit it with other memorabilia in a permanent exhibition of sorts??? tha fuq?

[@johneeeemarry34]

They don’t want to insure that crap.

[@noeraldinkabam]

I bet JayZ and B bought the Basquiat.

[@karlabritfeld7104]

I haven't heard of a rock star or actor yet who didn't indulge in self portraits. They are all egotists at heart.

[@merciart3090]

Def part of being an artist--also easily available model

[@ChrisAcheson]

wHATEVER

[@devenidarock]

Did he die broke? Why would you sell Bowie´s art collection for if you´re a rich heir??

[@johneeeemarry34]

Because you have to insurance this ugly , pretentious collection of so called art…Who would do that every year? The tax dodge was done when he bought this crap.

[@bluecrueful]

​@@johneeeemarry34 I am sure your shit contribution to the message thread will shine above of all that great art

[@wordscapes5690]

Lesson to learn for people with important collections? Always leave your collection to the public. If not, your family will flog the collection for sweaty cash and break it up, and they will never be seen in public again.

[@johneeeemarry34]

It’s not an important collection… just vulgar tax dodging garbage curated by art scum.

[@miraposajehano4309]

Never thought much of him as an artist. There are a few singles I like but I have always felt that the persona was bigger than the musician. To me, his best song is Space Oddity which was recorded in 1969...it is all downhill from that point on but for a few flashes of brillance along the way (Heroes, This is not America)

[@mutryTwein]

Chuor

[@BlackKettleRanch]

Hyperbole for hyperbole's sake is not necessarily good art.

[@idontcareaboutyou7757]

éttore sotsass not ettòre c'mon

[@theoryofpersonality1420]

The definition of the word art is something that is pretty or emotional. Most of this isn't art.

[@PaulaZF]

Who’s definition? I think you’re referring to what sells. That is still Art, just not all of art.

[@davidheaslip4413]

His collecting will go down in value , as he bought , lets be honest , a bunch of crap .

[@patriciahadley2374]

I was thinking the same thing. 😅 I found most of the objects almost disturbing in their ugliness or nothingness. There's so much wonderful contempory and modern art work out there. But there you are...art is so personal.

[@pafig333]

Most is ugly stuff

[@annalisavajda252]

Well art is subjective but he didn't buy it so other could approve of his choices later anyway he bought it because he liked it himself wanted to look at it same as the clothes he wore or songs he wrote not everyone would approve.

[@TheGmcFilms]

Rod Stewarts collection is rather more sought after than this. Bowie's "pedo" past seems to be forgotton for some reason. Strange that isn't it ...G...

[@peterduncan5034]

Pedo? utter rubbish

[@DonaldMoeser]

Nothing personal, but. . . . . he didn't make good use of his money.

[@carlgranados7106]

What a horrible art collection. Jeez! Fame and fortune is no guarantee of good taste in art. Of course now it's worth lots of money because Bowie owned it. Crap

[@johncarroll772]

😅😅😅😅😅

[@BabyJesus66]

I'm sure yours is much better. 🙄😒

[@chrisrutty]

Wow, how naive are you?

[@mavenbraun5701]

Trans

[@user-nt2nm7gf8j]

Not sure how you can produce a video about Bowie & art....and not mention Egon Schiele.....

[@johneeeemarry34]

Art history students have the same exceptionally low IQ score as women studies and gender studies students.

[@steveanna4550]

Lol"}88ii8l lol lol l99988:ī

[@glynndraper437]

He didn't make lucrative investments , he could have bought any old crap , they became valuable because an over rated singer owned them .

[@peterduncan5034]

He was a songwriter actually.

[@johneeeemarry34]

Who also sang…actually. Sax playing was overrated.