NEW YORK  – Christie's is honored to announce The Rosa de la Cruz Collection as a highlight of the Spring Marquee Week of sales. The collection will be presented beginning with a single-owner Evening Sale on May 14, 2024 featuring a group of more than 20 exceptional works by Rosa de la Cruz’s most treasured artists. The selection showcases best-in-class examples from diverse names including Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Ana Mendieta, Glenn Ligon, Mark Grotjahn, Martin Kippenberger, and Peter Doig, among others. The collection’s leading highlight is an iconic light string sculpture, “Untitled” (America #3)  by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, estimated to realize $8,000,000 – 12,000,000. In total, the selection in the evening sale is expected to achieve in excess of $30 million, with subsequent works offered in the Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale, and subsequent sales as Christie’s celebrates the Year of Rosa de la Cruz.

Beginning in the late 1980s, Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz began acquiring art with passion and care, and soon formed a brilliant and cohesive collection filling the walls of their Miami home. Over the next three decades, they proceeded to build among the most highly celebrated and visionary collections of contemporary art in America. In 2009, the collection moved to the Miami Design District where it was permanently housed for the next 15 years. The de la Cruz family generously welcoming visitors from Miami and around the world into the space to view the collection free of charge to experience Rosa de la Cruz’s unmatched eye, and share in her love of impactful, engaging artwork. Rosa de la Cruz played a crucial role in the development of the art world as it stands today, in part helping transform Miami into a major destination for both collectors and art lovers across all generations.

Carlos de la Cruz remarks, “Over the course of twenty years, Rosa built a fantastic collection of contemporary art with unwavering passion. To Rosa, collecting was in and of itself a form of art. Each of her acquisitions was deliberate and thoughtful. Her greatest sense of fulfillment came through sharing her love of art with others; she found pure joy in inspiring future generations of collectors. Rosa’s wish was for each of the artworks she loved so dearly to find new homes where they can enter their next chapter, and continue being seen, loved, and appreciated for years to come.”

Alex Rotter, Chairman of Christie’s 20th and 21st Century Art, comments, “Rosa de la Cruz was a truly groundbreaking figure in the art world. She collected with passion and with foresight, early on championing so many brilliant artists whose work continues to challenge viewers and spark new dialogues. This collection exemplifies the best of the 21st century and we could not be more honored to present it within the context of our Marquee Week this spring.” 

Isabella Lauria, Head of Christie’s 21^st Century Evening Sale, remarks, “Rosa sought to document the 21st century and she did exactly that. She built her legacy through exquisite taste and exceedingly generous patronage. As a true collector, she championed her artists in depth, and with patience. The results are extraordinary: the de la Cruz collection now exhibits the world’s most significant private holdings of both Felix Gonzalez Torres and Ana Mendieta. With global perspective and foresight, the collection also fosters masterworks from some of Europe’s most significant painters, including Peter Doig and Martin Kippenberger. This spring, Christie’s will honor Rosa’s legacy as a beacon of contemporary culture as we showcase her seminal collection.”