Christie's to Auction William I. Koch Collection
The massive collection hits the auction block during Christie's November 2026 Marquee Week.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Fine Art
Live Poll
Is now a good time to consider investing in fine art for your personal portfolio?
Christie's will host an auction for the William I. Koch Collection during the November 2026 Marquee Week in New York. The collection is expected to realize total proceeds in excess of $40 million.
Why it matters
The sale follows Koch's recent successful auctions of his wine and American art collections, continuing a series of high-profile liquidation events for the prominent collector.
Monet's 1890 work Champ d'avoine et coquelicots and Cezanne's circa 1877 piece Tasse, verre et fruits are each estimated to sell for $12 - 18 million. Matisse's La bayadere and Degas' Scene de ballet are projected at $5 - 7 million and $3 - 5 million respectively.
The players
William I. Koch
He is a prominent American businessman and art collector who is liquidating portions of his extensive personal holdings.
Christie's
This is a world-renowned British auction house founded in 1766 that specializes in fine art, jewelry, and luxury collectibles.
Claude Monet
He was a founder of French Impressionist painting who is best known for his landscape works exploring light and time.
Paul Cezanne
He was a French post-impressionist artist whose work bridged the gap between 19th-century impressionism and early 20th-century cubism.
Henri Matisse
He was a French artist known for his expressive use of color and fluid draftsmanship in both painting and sculpture.
The details
The collection features prominent works by artists including Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Auguste Rodin, Paul Cezanne, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Joan Miro, and Diego Rivera. These pieces will be offered across the 20th Century Evening Sale, the Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale, and Works on Paper Sales.
Timeline
Cezanne's Tasse, verre et fruits was painted in 1877.
Monet's Champ d'avoine et coquelicots was painted in 1890.
Matisse's La bayadere was painted in 1929.
The William I. Koch wine sale achieved $28.8 million in June 2025.
The William I. Koch Collection auction takes place in November 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The sale follows the pattern set by the previous American Art auction, continuing the strategic divestment of the owner's extensive collection. This auction represents a significant influx of blue-chip works into the marketplace during a major marquee sales week.
Interested collectors and art enthusiasts can bid on these works through the 20th Century Evening Sale, Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale, and Works on Paper Sales. Access to these events generally requires registration with the auction house prior to the start of the sales.
The takeaway
Collectors tracking blue-chip art movements should monitor these marquee sales as a barometer for market health among Impressionist and Modern masters. Prospective bidders are encouraged to review the provenance of works like Koch's Monet, which has been held since 1985.
Further reading
For more on the current market for high-end acquisitions, visit the Fine Art section.
Live Poll
Is now a good time to consider investing in fine art for your personal portfolio?
