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Sotheby’s is to auction selected works of art from British Airways’ lounges around the world as the airline seeks to raise funds to survive the impact of COVID-19.
Standout works include “Cool Edge” by Bridget Riley which is valued up to £1.2m and will be auctioned amongst works from other collectors at a “Rembrandt to Richter” auction on Tuesday 28 July 2020.
Other items from the BA collection to be auctioned by Sotheby’s at future auctions this month include works by Damien Hirst, Peter Doig, Julian Opie and George Shaw.
In total, 17 pieces will be auctioned from BA’s collection of 1,500 works of art: (No, you can’t earn Avios at Sotheby’s!). These are:
“Grasshopper Portfolio” by Peter Doig (£10,000 – £15,000)
“Colour Down The Side” by Sir Terry Frost, R.A. (pictured above) (£20,000 – £30,000)
“Sunglow” by Sir Terry Frost, R.A. (£10,000 – £15,000)
“Scarlet and Bordeaux in Cobalt” by Patrick Heron (£10,000 – £15,000)
“Valium” by Damien Hirst (£5,000 – £7,000)
Eight Landscapes by Julian Opie (£10,000 – £15,000)
“Garden 2” by Marc Quinn (£5,000 – £6,000)
“Untitled” (Bronze) by Bridget Riley (£5,000 – £7,000)
“Untitled” (Rose) by Bridget Riley (£5,000 – £7,000)
“Untitled” (Elongated Triangles 1) by Bridget Riley (£4,000 – £6,000)
“Untitled” (Elongated Triangles 2) by Bridget Riley (£4,000 – £6,000)
“Untitled” (Elongated Triangles 6) by Bridget Riley (£4,000 – £6,000)
“Untitled” (Elongated Triangles 4) by Bridget Riley (£4,000 – £6,000)
“Untitled” (Elongated Triangles 5) by Bridget Riley (£4,000 – £6,000)
“Scenes From The Passion: (Ash Wednesday) by George Shaw (£10,000 – £15,000)
“Scenes From The Passion: The Path In) by George Shaw (£10,000 – £15,000)
BA’s lounge complex at Heathrow is of course based around a “Galleries” concept and features many bespoke art installations and works. You may recognise “Colour Down The Side” by Sir Terry Frost, R.A. from the BA Arrivals Lounge. Though, there’s been a conspicuous lack of interest in the horse lamps from Terminal 5.
Speaking to the Sunday Times last month IAG CEO Willie Walsh, who famously sold off Aer Lingus’ art collection after the events of 11 September 2001, claims to have had nothing to do with the proposed sale and said of the auction:
“I didn’t realise we had an art collection. They said they had been hiding it from me for years because they thought if I knew it was there, I would probably sell it, and they were right.”
“I won’t be bidding for any of them, I can assure you.”
