Donegal Man © Lucian Freud 2007
Lucian Freud
57 works
Key Takeaways
Lucian Freud's artwork remains highly coveted by both public institutions and private collectors. Despite being known for rarely accepting commissions, Freud's unique approach to portraiture has cemented his status as a modern master. His works can be found in impressive private collections owned by prominent figures such as Roman Abramovich, Jerry Hall and Steve Martin. This widespread admiration underscores Freud's enduring impact on the art world and the exclusive nature of owning one of his pieces.
Over a decade after his death, Lucian Freud remains a towering figure in the art world, with his works held in high regard by both public institutions and private collectors. Known for seldom accepting commissions, Freud maintained a unique approach to his art, which only heightens the rarity and value of his work today. While several galleries in the UK and abroad proudly display his paintings, much of his oeuvre remains in private hands. Though many collectors prefer discretion, some have been vocal about their admiration for Freud’s artistry and the pride they take in owning his pieces. This has reinforced Freud’s reputation as a highly sought-after artist, whose works signify both artistic brilliance and personal distinction across the globe.
Roman Abramovich
In 2008, Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire and owner of Chelsea Football Club, made headlines when he purchased Lucian Freud's iconic painting Benefits Supervisor Sleeping for £26.5 million at a New York auction, setting a record at the time for the most expensive work by a living artist. The painting, a monumental study of Sue Tilley, one of Freud’s most celebrated models, depicts her resting on a worn-out sofa, her body sprawling across the canvas in a raw and unapologetic display of the human body. Freud’s meticulous rendering of Tilley’s form, with every fold of her body captured in intimate detail, has elevated Benefits Supervisor Sleeping to the status of a modern masterpiece, praised for its unflinching realism and emotional depth.
Abramovich, alongside his partner Dasha Zhukova, is known for acquiring significant works of contemporary art, and this piece, once stored away, reportedly found its place within the couple’s Kensington Palace Gardens mansion. The painting's presence in their collection not only underscores their appreciation of Freud’s work but also marks their engagement with pivotal figures in modern British art.
Jerry Hall
Model and actress Jerry Hall once owned a notable collection of contemporary art, which sold for £2.4 million at a Sotheby’s auction in London, in 2010. The centrepiece of the auction was Freud’s nude portrait of Hall, painted when she was eight months pregnant with her fourth child, Gabriel. This intimate and raw depiction attracted the most attention, selling for £601,250, almost double its estimated value. Hall, reflecting on the sale, remarked that she was “letting go of the past” and embracing change.
Hall recalled how she met Freud at a party while heavily pregnant, and how the artist invited her to model for him. Despite her condition, she was flattered by the opportunity and posed three times a week until she went into labour. Freud’s portrait of Hall stands out not only for its personal nature, but also for capturing the vulnerability and strength of pregnancy, immortalising a key moment in Hall’s life with Freud’s distinctive, unvarnished realism. Freud’s was not the only artwork sold at this auction, and among the 14 pieces sold were Dollar Sign, a gift from Andy Warhol, as well as works by Damien Hirst and Frank Auerbach.
Steve Martin
Steve Martin, the acclaimed actor, comedian and writer, is also a notable art collector with a deep appreciation for contemporary art, and started collecting at the age of 21. Among the remarkable works in his collection is Freud’s Naked Girl (1966), a small yet striking painting that captures Freud’s characteristic blend of realism and emotional intensity. Reflecting on the piece, Martin remarked, “She is, as the title tells us, merely naked, as we all must be at some time or another to someone else’s eyes.” The painting exemplifies Freud’s raw, unvarnished approach, offering a candid portrayal that, while undeniably erotic, defies traditional standards of beauty. Art critic John Mann has praised the work for its bold composition, highlighting its refusal to embellish or idealise the subject. Martin’s acquisition of Naked Girl not only underscores his personal connection to Freud’s art but also aligns with his wider passion for collecting pieces that challenge artistic conventions and delve into complex emotional landscapes.
Kate Moss
Kate Moss owning a Lucian Freud through the tattoo on her lower back might be a more unconventional way to acquire a Freud masterpiece. In a delightful twist of art and anatomy, Freud, who famously immortalised Moss in paint during her pregnancy, also tattooed two swallows on her lower back, an act that merged high art with the subversive charm of body ink. This unique collaboration blurs the line between canvas and skin, making Moss a literal walking work of art. Not only does she carry the mark of one of the greatest painters of the 20th century, but she does so in the most rebellious way possible, turning her own body into a gallery that neither Sotheby’s nor the Met could ever exhibit. Freud’s tattoo is not just a symbol of his artistry, but a playful reminder that art can live, breathe, and walk.
David Bowie
In 1995, David Bowie, ever the artistic innovator, ventured beyond his musical career to collaborate with British textile design company Laura Ashley on a unique project inspired by modern psychology and art. As part of his first solo art show, New Afro Pagan Work: 1975-1995, held at The Gallery in Cork Street, Bowie created a striking wallpaper design that paid homage to Lucian Freud. The design featured repetitive green nude self-portraits of Freud set against a traditional English chintz background, blending elements of fine art and domestic decor in an unexpected, avant-garde fusion.
Only ten to fifteen rolls of this exclusive wallpaper were produced, adding to its rarity. One of these pieces became a focal point at Bowie’s Pagan Fun Wear event, which attracted prominent figures from the fashion and music worlds. In a nod to both Bowie’s artistic vision and charitable efforts, two rolls of the Freud-inspired wallpaper were later auctioned as part of a fundraiser for War Child UK, further solidifying the enduring connection between Bowie’s creative pursuits and his philanthropic endeavours.
Lucian Freud
57 works
