Sherman 100 auction coming this May

Notable collectors Gene and Brian Sherman are set to auction 100 artworks from their collection at Bonhams Auction House in Woollahra, Sydney, on 11 May.

The selected works have a personal meaning to Gene, who has fostered significant relationships with artists throughout her extensive career in the arts. Some of the artists who have works to be auctioned include: Shaun Gladwell, Janet Laurence, Imants Tillers, Mike Parr, Ai Wei Wei, Zhang Huan and Guan Wei.

Mariam Arcilla profiled these collectors in issue 90 of Art Collector, published in 2019. She wrote: Over the past three decades, [Gene Sherman has] helped transform the way people experience and collect art – through her oscillating roles of curator, art advisor, academic, producer and benefactor. Known for boosting the careers of countless artists, she established Sherman Galleries with curatorial director, the late William Wright, which ran from 1986 to 2007, followed by the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, from 2008 to 2017. Both enterprises were supported by her husband Brian, a humanitarian and former entrepreneur whose funds management business Equitilink garnered them mammoth wealth. “During those years, I initially searched for artists on the rise,” she states, “and we offered them exhibitions, publications and budget support, so they could create breakthrough works.” Although breakthroughs didn’t eventuate for every commissioned artist, “they happened enough to encourage me to continue doing what I did”. Read the full profile here.

The auction will showcase works from exhibitions held at the Sherman Galleries as well as the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation. To find out more and for access to the catalogue, visit the Bonhams auction house website.