Founding Member of Destiny’s Child Picks a Selection of Her Favorite Works by Artists Such as Stanley Whitney, Ernie Barnes, Peter Bradley & More

Live auction in New York 9 March

"As a first-time curator, I have always felt that art is a personal means of expression, and I wanted to highlight a group of works that speak to my experience and how I connect with art. Combining my voice and vision with Sotheby’s paves the way for younger generations to recognize themselves in art. There are so many young people and young artists who want to be a part of this art world. This is a beautiful way to fuse these worlds together and allow this conversation to start.” Kelly Rowland

NEW YORK, 23 February 2023 – Four-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, actress and executive producer Kelly Rowland will curate the latest edition of Sotheby’s Contemporary Curated auction, selecting an edit of six superlative artworks that personally resonated with her collecting vision. Rowland’s selection spans a variety of paintings, from expressionism, figuration to abstraction and action painting, presenting a broad vision of post-war and contemporary art. The live auction will take place at Sotheby’s New York on 9 March, with an exhibition on view 3 - 8 March.

Speaking to her own personal tastes in art, Rowland remarked: “As an artist, singer, songwriter turned collector, what I look for is when a piece has its own rhythm. I’m especially inspired by art when it comes to movement. My first exposure to art was through figurative works that I could identify with, because as a kid, the world around me didn't look the way I did. Today, I find myself gravitating toward more abstract pieces that meld motion, energy and color – those feelings of being on stage.”

Rowland’s collecting mantra is: “Art is representation. I started collecting to leave a legacy for my children. Growing up, I admired art that incited self-reflection. Today, I’ve found a creative way to allow a new generation of collectors and enthusiasts the space to see themselves in art and tell a story the world needs to hear. What a blessing to be able to leave something so beautiful behind for your kids…”

The Platinum-certified global pop superstar grew up in the spotlight as a founding member of Destiny’s Child, one of the best-selling female groups of all time, and has sold over 40 million records on her own. The famed ensemble’s awe-inspiring list of chart toppers include many number one singles in the U.S. and more than 75 million albums sold worldwide. Rowland’s voice and effervescent personality have not only garnered her critical and commercial success in the music arena, but her unique style and limitless drive have also recently generated numerous opportunities in television, film and fashion.

Since 2013, Sotheby’s Contemporary Curated Auctions in New York, with editions in London, and Hong Kong, have invited an influential figure from fields as diverse as music, business, fashion, film, and culture to specially curate a group of works by the most sought-after post-war and contemporary artists that showcase their unique taste and interests. Previous curators in New York include Robert Pattinson, Swizz Beatz, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Aoki, Kim Jones, and Cynthia Erivo among others. Anchored by exceptional works of art, each tastemaker adds a unique editorial point of view to each sale.

Works to Benefit the Ali Forney CenterAs part of the Contemporary Curated auction in New York on 9 March, a sequence of six works comprising Home Coming: Queer Artists Support the Ali Forney Center, will benefit New York’s Ali Forney Center (AFC), an organization committed to helping LGBTQ+ homeless youth. Members of the queer artist community have donated artworks to benefit the organization which was founded in 2002 in memory of the late homeless gender-nonconforming youth, Ali Forney, offering temporary and permanent housing and services; providing food, shelter, access to education, job readiness training, and medical services; accommodating 24-hour drop-in center among other life-saving resources to more than 2,000 queer young people in New York City. The dedicated sequence will feature works by Doron Langberg, Salman Toor, Jenna Gribbon, Hernan Bas, Felipe Baeza and Nash Glynn, who will be making their auction debut.