Sotheby’s Hosts Exclusive Viewing of David Bowie Collection in SF

A promotional still for the collection
A promotional still for the collection

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

The San Francisco art and tech worlds collided recently at a private reception hosted by Sotheby’s at the old Periscope headquarters in Soma. The event was to celebrate the debut of the personal art collection of legendary musician David Bowie. Part of Bowie’s 400 item collection was on view at the stylish cocktail party. Guests mingled and nibbled on bites by Taste Catering while taking in the paintings of Damien Hirst, Frank Auerbach, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Harold Gilman. Also on hand was the performer’s personal vintage stereo designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni.

Jack Dorsey
Jack Dorsey

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

These art and design works were in San Francisco for one night only before moving on to public shows in New York and Hong Kong. The entire gallery of exceptional artifacts will return to London for a three part set of Bowie/Collector auctions. During his life, Bowie considered art an inspiration and stable nourishment; he collected more than 200 works by the most significant British artists of the 20th century. Bowie also accumulated eccentric and surrealist pieces, outsider art, and contemporary African art. The invite only event, hosted by Sotheby’s Courtney Kremers and Charles Moffett, brought together Twitter’s Jack Dorsey, IfOnly’s Trevor Traina, and Third Eye Blind’s Stephan Jenkins. Style setters, Allison Speer, Emily Holt, and Anna Gavazz Asseily were also on hand. Other notables included Charlot Malin and her husband Gregory Malin.