Three-Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur, and author Daniel Humm is set to bring his perspective from fine dining to contemporary art with Sotheby’s latest Contemporary Curated auction. Renowned for redefining Eleven Madison Park and advocating sustainability, Mr. Humm will select works that reflect his personal connections and artistic sensibilities.
The live auction will take place on September 26 at Sotheby’s New York, with a public exhibition open from September 20 to 25. Presented in partnership with Velocity Black, the collaboration offers members access to curated artworks, rare collectibles, private sales, VIP events, and masterclasses with Sotheby’s specialists.
The prolific chef said, “For me, a restaurant is like a home; it has a soul, and every element should feel personal. I work with artists who are friends, giving them trust and freedom, just as I do with my team in the kitchen. There’s a careful editing process in both food and art, ensuring every detail is meaningful. Art in a restaurant can be interactive and intimate, and I love creating a space where guests can engage with it while experiencing the same thoughtfulness and craft that goes into every dish.”
Mr. Humm describes collecting as a personal pursuit. “I’ve always seen myself less as a collector of art and more as a collector of life. I love living with works that resonate with me and that I have a personal relationship with. Collecting is about curiosity, learning about different artists, philosophies, and ideas, and building a collection around that personal connection.”
Since 2013, Sotheby’s Contemporary Curated auctions have invited influential figures across music, fashion, business, film, and culture to select works by post-war and contemporary artists. Previous curators include Victoria Beckham, Robert Pattinson, Karlie Kloss, Oprah Winfrey, Swizz Beatz, and Steve Aoki, each contributing a unique perspective.
Haleigh Stoddard, Sotheby’s Head of Contemporary Curated, said, “It has been such a joy to work with Daniel, an established collector whose vision and curiosity have shaped this collaboration. Approaching both food and art with remarkable creativity and thoughtfulness, he embraces innovation and connection in a way that resonates deeply with the works presented in this sale.”
Mr. Humm’s selection includes Keith Haring, Alex Katz, Joan Mitchell, Jean Dubuffet, Etel Adnan, Sarah Crowner, Roni Horn, and Philip Guston. Haring’s Untitled (circa 1985), estimated at $1.8–2 million, combines bold figures with visual symbolism. “This single form on canvas is striking and powerful. I see questions of religion and activism in it, and like all great art, it confronts you and makes you think,” Mr. Humm said.
Katz’s four-panel Night—William Dunas Dance Company (1979), estimated at $600,000–800,000, captures dancer Pamela Berkeley in motion against a deep blue background. Joan Mitchell’s Untitled (circa 1975–80) channels abstract expressionist vigor with textured strokes of yellow and green.
Etel Adnan’s hand-woven tapestry (circa 1965–68) reflects her early evolution from writer to visual artist, while Sarah Crowner’s sewn canvas Navy and Sky With Corners (2023) reimagines geometric abstraction with bold form and color. Roni Horn’s Key and Cue, No. 1350 (LUCK IS NOT CHANCE -) (1996) translates Emily Dickinson’s poetry into sculptural form.
The auction demonstrates Mr. Humm’s approach of blending curiosity, personal connection, and careful selection. For him, the experience of art mirrors the care he brings to the kitchen, offering collectors a chance to engage with works that are thoughtfully chosen, deeply meaningful, and culturally significant.
