Christie's Will Sell Mickey and Edna Weiss Collection

The renowned art collection will be sold at Christie's New York during Marquee Week in November 2026.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Philanthropy

An abstract metal wire sculpture on a white pedestal in a dimly lit, spacious art gallery.
Christie's will host the auction of the Mickey and Edna Weiss art collection in New York this November, featuring significant sculptures and paintings. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Christie's will present the art collection of Mickey and Edna Weiss in New York this November 2026. The sale follows a preview of select items in Los Angeles from October 14-17, 2026.

Why it matters

The Weiss family collection highlights the intersection of fine art and philanthropy, reflecting the couple's legacy of pioneering a national food redistribution model. The sale proceeds will carry forward the spirit of their humanitarian work which saw them honored with the President's Points of Light award twice.

The collection features prominent sculptures and paintings acquired in the 1980s, including works by Helen Frankenthaler and Raoul Dufy. The couple also established over 150 food redistribution centers that reclaimed tens of millions of pounds of food.

The players

Mickey and Edna Weiss

They were prominent art collectors and philanthropists who founded a food redistribution model that expanded to over 150 centers across the country.

Christie's

It is a world-leading art and luxury business that holds auctions and provides art advisory services across the globe.

The details

The auction will be conducted during Christie's Marquee Week through a series of evening, day, and online sales. The collection includes significant pieces such as sculptures by Alexander Calder and paintings by Maurice de Vlaminck, all gathered by the couple after they began their philanthropic work in the late 1980s.

Timeline

  1. Mickey and Edna Weiss married in 1941.

  2. The family acquired the collection works during the 1980s.

  3. Mickey Weiss first observed food waste at a wholesale market in 1987.

  4. Christie's will hold an exhibition of highlights in Los Angeles from October 14-17, 2026.

  5. The collection will be presented at Christie's New York in November 2026.

Market Landscape

This auction follows the established trend of major art sales serving as vehicles to support long-standing philanthropic missions and foundations. It signals a continued market appetite for high-value modern art held in private hands for several decades.

Potential collectors and art enthusiasts can view pieces from the collection during the Los Angeles preview event this October. The sale offers an opportunity for the public to acquire significant works while understanding the history of the Weiss family's charitable legacy.

The takeaway

The Weiss collection demonstrates how private acquisitions can eventually support public humanitarian goals through strategic estate planning. Collectors can view this event as a milestone in the market for modern sculpture and abstract painting.

Further reading

Learn more about the intersection of high-profile asset sales and charitable giving in our Philanthropy section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Artdaily.

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Should private art collections from deceased philanthropists be auctioned publicly rather than donated to public museums?