Bowie/Collector: Ettore Sottsass and Memphis at Sotheby’s

On November, Sotheby’s will stage Bowie/Collector, a three-part sale encompassing over 350 works from the private collection of legendary musician David Bowie.David Bowie was a musician, actor and icon, as well as a publisher, curator and magazine editor with Modern British art at the heart of those passions. Born in South London, it’s perhaps no surprise that he was drawn to chroniclers of the capital’s streets such as Harold Gilman and Frank Auerbach while he also collected St Ives-based painter Peter Lanyon in particular depth. However, his collection is by no means limited to British art alone and also encompasses Contemporary African art, self-taught artists from Vienna’s Gugging institution, as well as designs by Ettore Sottsass and the revolutionary Memphis group.