Christie’s to Feature Monumental Painting from Rubell Collection in May 2025 Marquee Week Sale
Renowned contemporary artist Marlene Dumas is expected to make art history this May as her 1997 painting Miss January heads to auction at Christie’s New York. The emotionally charged work, estimated between $12 million and $18 million, is backed by a third-party guarantee and could set a new auction record for a living female artist.
The record stands at $12.4 million for Jenny Saville’s Propped (1992), sold at Sotheby’s London in 2018. With Miss January’s monumental scale and prestigious provenance, industry insiders anticipate it will surpass this benchmark.
A Landmark Painting by a Pioneering Artist
At over nine feet tall, Miss January showcases Dumas’s signature blend of psychological intensity and formal mastery. The painting depicts a nude woman wearing a single pink sock from the waist down—a provocative composition that challenges traditional representations of the female body.
Courtesy – The Rubell Museum
According to Sara Friedlander, Deputy Chairman of Post-War and Contemporary Art at Christie’s, the piece is “the magnum opus of Marlene Dumas,” praising its power to “upend normalised concepts of the female nude through the lens of a male-centric history.”
From the Rubell Collection to the Auction Block
Miss January comes from the collection of influential Miami-based collectors Mera and Don Rubell, founders of the Rubell Museum. The Rubells acquired the work from Galerie Paul Andriesse in Amsterdam over two decades ago. They are now releasing it to further their mission of championing emerging artists.
This sale reflects the Rubells’ strategic collecting philosophy and underscores their enduring impact on the global contemporary art scene.
Dumas’ Influences and Legacy
Dumas, born in South Africa and based in the Netherlands, is celebrated for her emotionally raw portraits often derived from photographs and media imagery. Her work probes themes of sexuality, race, motherhood, and mortality, making her a singular voice in contemporary painting.
Miss January references her early artistic exploration—linking back to Miss World, a childhood drawing of ten idealised women—and connects to other significant works like Misinterpreted (1988) and her 1992 retrospective Miss Interpreted at the Stedelijk Museum.
A Market on the Rise
Despite a broader market slowdown, Christie’s has attracted major consignments for its spring sales. In addition to Miss January, the lineup includes a Jean-Michel Basquiat triptych ($20M–$30M), an Andy Warhol electric chair canvas (expected to exceed $30M), and a Claude Monet riverscape ($30M–$50M).
These high-profile offerings signal renewed confidence in blue-chip contemporary art and underscore Dumas’s place among today’s most sought-after painters.
Dumas in Museums and Exhibitions
Marlene Dumas’ work is held in major institutions worldwide, including:
Courtesy – David Zwirner
- The Museum of Modern Art (New York)
- Tate (UK)
- Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam)
- Fondation Beyeler (Basel)
- Musée d’Orsay (Paris)
- The Menil Collection (Houston)
She has been the subject of major retrospectives at venues such as the Tate Modern, Palazzo Grassi, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.
Conclusion
As Miss January hits the auction block, Marlene Dumas stands on the brink of setting a new precedent in the art world. The upcoming Christie’s sale not only spotlights a landmark painting but also affirms the enduring influence of women artists in shaping the narrative of contemporary art.
Image Courtesy – The Art Newspaper
Contributor
