Christie’s is honoured to offer the Collection of Ole Faarup, one of Denmark’s most visionary collectors, as a central feature of its 20th/21st Century Art Marquee Week in October 2025. Spanning over fifty years of passionate collecting, the sale will benefit The Ole Faarup Art Foundation, which supports emerging artists and cultural institutions.

Comprising approximately 140 lots with an estimated total value of £16-22 million, the collection will be presented across three sales: the London Evening Sale on 15 October, the Day Sale on

16 October, and a dedicated online auction running from 8-21 October.

The Ole Faarup Art Foundation continues Faarup’s mission to champion younger artists, particularly Danish talents under 50, including those from the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The Foundation aims to place their work in museums and public collections worldwide and facilitate their first exhibitions abroad. It also fosters cultural exchange by acquiring Danish artworks for donation to institutions outside Denmark.

Among the collection’s highlights are two major works by Peter Doig. Country Rock (1998-99, estimate: £7-10 million), featured on the cover of Doig’s 2008 Tate retrospective, depicts Toronto’s rainbow tunnel and reflects themes of memory and myth. Ski Jacket (1994, estimate: £6-8 million), based on a newspaper photo of a Japanese ski resort, transforms a snowy landscape into a dreamlike, prismatic scene. Both works exemplify Doig’s atmospheric style and Faarup’s emotional approach to collecting.

Chris Ofili’s Blossom (1997, estimate: £1-1.5 million) is another standout. Created a year before Ofili won the Turner Prize, it blends sacred iconography, African symbolism, pop culture, glitter, and elephant dung. The painting was prominently exhibited under Faarup’s stewardship and featured in retrospectives at Tate Britain and the New Museum in New York.

Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled (1982, estimate: £300,000-500,000) captures a pivotal moment in the artist’s early career. The oilstick work features two totemic figures in vivid colours and reflects Basquiat’s signature style and rising prominence in the early 1980s.

The collection also includes works by Scandinavian and Danish artists such as Karin Mamma Andersson, Asger Jorn, Per Kirkeby, and Sonja Ferlov Mancoba, alongside contemporary Danish names like John Kørner, Jeppe Hein, and Tal R. International artists from the Neue Leipziger Schule – Neo Rauch, Matthias Weischer, and Daniel Richter – are represented, as are key figures from the YBAs, including Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, and Gary Hume.

Ole Faarup’s journey as a collector began in the 1960s while working for Georg Jensen in New York. Lunchtime visits to MoMA sparked his fascination with emerging artists and led to formative encounters with figures like Andy Warhol. Returning to Denmark in the 1970s, Faarup built a successful design business while cultivating his collection. Initially focused on Danish artists, he later expanded to include international talent, acquiring works early in their careers and constantly evolving his collection to reflect the present moment.

His home became a living gallery – a modern Kunstkammer -where art and life coexisted. Faarup collected with intuition and curiosity, driven by a desire to support bold new voices.

Katharine Arnold, Vice-Chairman 20/21 and Head of Post-War and Contemporary Art, Europe at Christie’s, said:
“We are honoured to present this extraordinary collection, shaped by Ole Faarup’s visionary eye and philanthropic spirit. His generosity ensures that his passion for art will continue to inspire and support generations of artists. From Doig’s dreamlike visions to Ofili’s richly textured surfaces, every artwork reflects Faarup’s forward-thinking approach to collecting.”

Peter van der Graaf, International Specialist, and Rikke Juel Brandt, Representative Consultant Denmark, added: “It was a privilege to know Ole Faarup. His collection stands out for its internationally significant works and sincere passion for discovering emerging talent. Through the Foundation, his legacy will live on in museums and public collections worldwide.”

Morten Kroon, Chairman of The Ole Faarup Art Foundation, said:
“Ole Faarup made the generous decision to leave his estate to the Foundation, which will acquire and donate works to public museums, ensuring broad access to contemporary art. We are proud to partner with Christie’s to carry forward his legacy.”

Highlights from the collection were exhibited at Kunsthal in Copenhagen from 16-19 August, followed by previews in Hong Kong and New York in September, and at Christie’s King Street in London from 8 October during Marquee Week.

100% of the hammer price for these lots will benefit The Ole Faarup Art Foundation.





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