I.M. Pei—a world-renowned architect who died in May at the age of 102—will most certainly be remembered for his revolutionary architecture. Yet, this upcoming fall, the Chinese-American luminary will be in the news for another reason: his stunning collection of art.
Christie's has just announced that it will be hosting an auction for the personal collection of I.M. Pei and his wife, Eileen (1920–2014). The auctions—which will be held in Paris (September 13–17), Hong Kong (October 3–6), Los Angeles (October 15–17), and New York (November 1–13)—will feature artwork by Barnett Newman, Zao Wou-ki, Jean Dubuffet, and Henry Moore, among others. "Because the Peis were personal friends with many of the artists whose work they collected, their collection provides a unique glimpse into their lives," a Christie’s spokesperson comments. "Not only did they care deeply for the works, but in many cases they cared deeply for the artists themselves ,like Jean Dubuffet and Barnett Newman. Both Eileen and I.M. Pei had incredibly creative minds and, unsurprisingly, they surrounded themselves with friends of equal talent and intellect."
But it's not just that I.M. Pei and his wife were friends with these artists; they appeared to have a bond that moved past the creative world and into something more sincere. "From the time I was young, I remember visiting countless art galleries and museums with my parents," says their daughter Liane Pei. "My mother would magically produce a block of paper and a set of oil crayons and would ask if I’d like to find a quiet corner where I might find inspiration in the works around me. Recently, Francoise Marquet, Zao Wou-ki’s widow, returned to me one such drawing that she found amongst his papers. That he had saved it all these years was deeply touching."
Born in Guangzhou, China, in 1917, Ieoh Ming (I.M.) Pei was part of a well-known family whose prominence extended back to the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). In 1942 he married his wife Eileen, who had just graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in art. The two remained married until Eileen's passing in 2014. During the course of their lives, Pei would become one of the most influential architects of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
"Great artists need great clients," I.M. Pei once remarked. It's only fitting that a man who designed the Louvre pyramid was the owner of such a tremendous collection of art as well.
