Bennett College to Auction Harriet Tubman Portrait
Sotheby's New York will offer the Aaron Douglas painting as part of its November 18 modern art auction.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in African-American
Bennett College has partnered with Sotheby's New York to auction a portrait of Harriet Tubman painted by Aaron Douglas, with the painting going on the block on November 18. Proceeds from the sale will support future initiatives at the historically Black college.
Why it matters
The sale turns a work once displayed in Bennett's dining hall into funding for the college, after the school determined it lacked the resources to preserve the painting. It also places a Harlem Renaissance work before a broad market of collectors and museums.
The painting is expected to sell for between $2.5 million and $3.5 million at Sotheby's New York's modern art auction. The estimate is a pre-sale projection, and the actual price will depend on bidding.
The players
Bennett College
Bennett College is a historically Black women's college in Greensboro, North Carolina, which is directing proceeds from the sale toward its Women's Health Initiative.
Sotheby's New York
Sotheby's New York is the auction house conducting the sale of the painting as part of its modern art auction.
The details
Bennett College selected the North Carolina Museum of Art to house the painting for the past two decades after determining it did not have the necessary preservation resources. Ronald Carter, the college's acting president, and David Galperin, Sotheby's vice chairman and head of contemporary art, are involved in the sale, which Galperin said is expected to draw major museums globally.
Timeline
1920s and 1930s: Aaron Douglas becomes a prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance.
Past two decades: The painting is housed at the North Carolina Museum of Art.
November 18, 2026: The painting goes on the block at Sotheby's New York's modern art auction.
Cultural Legacy
Aaron Douglas was a central visual artist of the Harlem Renaissance, the 1920s and 1930s movement that shaped modern African-American art. The sale of this portrait brings one of his works into the contemporary market, where its value is now being set through a major auction house.
Anyone interested in bidding or viewing the painting should follow Sotheby's New York's auction schedule for the November 18 sale. Museum and collector interest is expected to be strong, so early registration and viewing arrangements through the auction house are advisable.
The takeaway
A historically Black college is turning a significant piece of African-American art into resources for its students, showing how institutions can steward cultural works beyond their walls. The auction offers a clear example of how preservation needs and community priorities can shape decisions about public art.
What happens next
The painting goes on the block at Sotheby's New York's modern art auction on November 18, 2026, when the final sale price will be set.
Further reading
For more on the artists and movements behind works like this, explore African-American coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.
