Going, going, gone

Texas ranching heiress' art trove fetches $157 million at auction

Late Texas philanthropist Anne Windfohr Marion's private art collection sold for an eye-popping $157.2 million (including fees) at a Sotheby's New York auction May 12.

The 14-lot "American Visionary: The Collection of Mrs. John L. Marion" — described as a "legendary Texan, renowned philanthropist, and storied collector" — included post-war American art masterpieces and other works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Richard Diebenkorn, Clyfford Still, Franz Kline, and more.

It was valued at $132 million-$190.2 million and sold for $134.4 million before fees, according to The Art Newspaper, which adds that, disappointingly, "four of the 18 lots offered failed to sell for a decent buy-in rate of 22 percent."

But records were broken for works by Richard Diebhenkorn, Kenneth Noland, and Larry Rivers, Sotheby's says. Two works exceed $30 million, and four works exceeded $20 million.

Information about buyers was not disclosed.

Sale highlights include:

Richard Diebenkorn’s 7-foot-tall Ocean Park #40 — purchased from Sotheby’s in 1990 for $880,000 — set a new record for the artist at $27.3 million (est. $20-$30 million).
Andy Warhol’s 1963 Elvis 2 Times — "a portrait of the star who came to embody the cowboy ideal" — sold for $37 million in its auction debut (est. $20-$30 million).
Gerhard Richter’sAbstraktes Bild was underbid by one Asian collector and sold to another for $23.2 million (est. $14-$18 million).
Clyfford Still’s masterwork PH-125 (1948-No. 1) fetched $30.7 million, also in its auction debut (est. $25-$35 million). "Like Mrs. Marion, Still also came from the vast expanses of rural America, and the grandeur of the landscapes that surrounded him were an enduring influence," Sotheby's says.

Prior to the auction, Sotheby's had called Marion's assemblage "the most significant collection to come to auction for years."

Marion, a Texas ranching heiress, died in February 2020 at age 81. She left behind a Texas ranching empire about one-third the size of Rhode Island, which went on the market late last year for more than $340 million. (It reportedly sold to a Hollywood star, but as of press time, a sale had not been finalized and made public.)

The artworks on auction had decorated Anne and John Marion's palatial Fort Worth home. Others were gifted to the Kimbell Art Museum and Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Sotheby's says.

Marion was a champion of the arts in Fort Worth, and she and husband John, a former Sotheby’s chairman and auctioneer, founded the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In addition to a dedicated auction for Marion's fine art collection, Sotheby’s is also holding an online sale of select jewelry pieces. "As with the masterworks of 20th century American art she acquired with her husband, Mrs. Marion’s appreciation for American-made design extends to her jewelry collection, boasting signature pieces by Verdura, Andrew Clunn, and most notably, David Webb," Sotheby's says in a release.

According to the auction website, bidding in "American Visionary: Fine Jewels from the Collection of Mrs. John L. Marion" runs May 10-18.

Additional works from the Marion Collection will also be included within other Sotheby sales this spring, including Master Paintings (May 20), Impressionist & Modern Art Day sale (April 30-May 14), American Art (May 19), and the European Art sale (May 13-20).

Clyfford Still, PH-125 (1948-No. 1), 1948. Estimate: $25M-$35M

Clyfford Still, PH-125 (1948-No. 1), Anne Marion

Photo courtesy of Sotheby's

Clyfford Still, PH-125 (1948-No. 1), 1948. Estimate: $25M-$35M

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Outside the Lines

Buda artist releases intuitive drawing book with fun prompts

Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Artist Ronald Gross creates an intuitive drawing with crayon, which he considers a "joyful" medium.

Buda-based artist and writer Ronald Gross released a book in November called Unlock Your Creativity: A Guide to Intuitive Drawing, which will walk aspiring expressers through drawing without worry. On December 6, he'll be on hand to help in an intuitive drawing demo at Buda Public Library's Holiday Open House.

The book is a hands-on guide that teaches readers how to lean into their own desires and intuitions when drawing, whether they feel like an artist or not. In this way, intuitive drawing should feel relaxing, meditative, and ultimately, beneficial for mental health. If you find coloring books relaxing and meditative, intuitive drawing may have the same effect on you.

"Intuitive drawing is the practice of creating art without a specific plan or outcome in mind," says Gross. "It’s about letting your hand move freely, guided by emotion, curiosity, or subconscious impulses; not about making something perfect."

An intuitive drawing by author and artist Ronald Gross. Intuitive drawing is simple, joyful, and according to Gross can calm the mind much like meditation. Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

This book presents exercises to access a mindful state: freeform doodling, blind contouring drawing, drawing from the imagination, and drawing from emotions. For artists feeling stuck, Gross also includes plenty of exercises for overcoming creative blocks and even discusses ways intuitive drawing can be applied to other creative projects and areas of life.

In the December workshop, Gross will give a quick demonstration on how to create an intuitive drawing using nothing but lines, shapes, and simple marks. Then participants can try it out with a variety of crayons, because crayons are "tactile" and can quickly transport people into a "playful, unselfconscious space," according to Gross.

"The workshop is all about creating a supportive, judgment-free space to explore intuitive drawing," he says. "Attendees will leave with tools to keep practicing on their own and, hopefully, a renewed sense of creativity and playfulness."

An intuitive drawing from author and artist Ronald Gross. In college Gross was taught how to take a doodle and elevate it into fine art.Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Gross's own journey into intuitive drawing started at a young age, when he would doodle and sketch throughout the school day. Years later at the Academy of Art University, a professor encouraged him to lean into this more intuitive and abstract style of art. Since then, Gross has been exploring intuitive drawing's ability to access a meditative state, as well as tap into the subconscious mind.

"When you draw intuitively, you’re fully present in the moment," Gross says. "Your mind quiets, and you become attuned to the flow of your thoughts, feelings, and physical movements. It’s akin to meditation, only instead of sitting still, you’re actively channeling your inner experience onto the page."

An intuitive drawing by author and artist Ronald Gross. Gross's intuitive drawings each evoke a different feeling through his simple use of color and linework. Photo courtesy of Ronald Gross

Gross adds that over time, doing some of the exercises included in the book may even help boost confidence, since intuitive drawing can help people learn to trust their instincts.

"Intuitive drawing can unlock creativity, reduce stress, and help people reconnect with their inner selves," he adds. "It offers a space to process emotions, spark ideas, and break free from perfectionism or overthinking."

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