Gene Hackman’s Art and Memorabilia Auction Set for November

Bonhams is set to host a series of auctions in November featuring the extensive art collection, film memorabilia, and personal items of the late Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman. These sales, comprising one live event and two online auctions, will provide a unique glimpse into Hackman’s private life and artistic passions following his passing in February 2025 at the age of 95.

The first auction, titled Gene Hackman: A Life in Art, Part I, will take place on November 19, 2023, at Bonhams in New York. This event will showcase significant artworks from Hackman’s personal collection, including notable pieces by renowned artists such as Milton Avery, Richard Diebenkorn, and Auguste Rodin. Among the highlights is Avery’s painting Figure on the Jetty (1957), with an estimated value between $500,000 (£395,000) and $700,000 (£555,000). Hackman acquired this piece from Sotheby’s New York in 1997 for $244,500 (£193,000).

Another prominent lot includes Diebenkorn’s colour etching Green (1986), expected to sell for between $300,000 (£237,000) and $500,000 (£395,000). A yet-to-be-detailed sculpture by Rodin also features in the auction, carrying an estimate of $200,000 (£158,000) to $300,000 (£237,000).

Andrew Huber, Bonhams’ Head of 20th & 21st Century Art, emphasized Hackman’s deep connection to visual culture, stating, “These are prestigious works with impeccable provenance, further enriched by their association with one of the greatest actors of our time.” Huber noted that Hackman was not only a collector but also an artist, and his collecting approach reflects the care and aesthetic sensibility he brought to his own artistic endeavors.

Following the initial sale, two additional online auctions, Part II from November 8 to 21 and Part III from November 25 to December 4, will broaden the offerings to include Hackman’s personal artworks, annotated film scripts, signed posters, and other memorabilia accumulated throughout his six-decade career. Among the items for auction are two of Hackman’s Golden Globe awards: one for his Oscar-winning role in Unforgiven (1993) and another for The Royal Tenenbaums (2002). His Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award from 2003 will also be available.

Other notable items include Hackman’s own still-life painting, estimated at $1,000 (£790) to $1,500 (£1,185), along with a selection of books from his personal library. These annotated volumes showcase Hackman’s longstanding interest in history and storytelling, themes that influenced his later work as a novelist.

Anna Hicks, Bonhams’ Head of Private and Iconic Collections, described the auction as an opportunity to explore the man behind the celebrity. “Together, these sales offer an intimate portrait of Hackman’s private world and a rare opportunity for collectors to engage with his creative life,” she stated. “What emerges is more than a collection; it is a life lived with purpose, curiosity, and uncompromising vision.”

Hackman’s artistic journey began long before his retirement from film. He served on the board of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, narrated a documentary about the painter, and became an advocate for contemporary art in the American Southwest. After stepping away from acting in 2004 following the film Welcome to Mooseport, Hackman dedicated more time to painting and writing, an endeavour that intensified during his later years.

His home in Santa Fe became filled with works that reflected his appreciation for subtle emotion and modernist themes. Hackman and his wife, classical musician Betsy Arakawa, who shared his passion for art and music, both passed away in February 2025 at their Santa Fe residence. The couple married in 1991 and led a reclusive life, focusing on their shared creative pursuits.

Bonhams has stated that the Gene Hackman Collection provides a rare insight into the artistic mind of a profoundly disciplined artist. The upcoming auctions will not only celebrate Hackman’s cinematic legacy but also his enduring connection to the world of art, serving as a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to creating, collecting, and inspiring.