The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC is facing significant criticism for its decision to sell three masterpieces at Sotheby's auction house, with the controversial deaccession drawing opposition from both the public and a member of the founding Phillips family. The three paintings scheduled for auction on Thursday, November 20, include Georgia O'Keeffe's "Large Dark Red Leaves on White" (1927), Georges Seurat's "Clowns et poney" (1883-84), and Arthur Dove's "Rose and Locust Stump" (1943), with an expected total value of up to $14.8 million.
The museum's decision has generated particular controversy due to strong opposition from Liza Phillips, granddaughter of museum founders Duncan and Marjorie Phillips. "We treasure those pieces," she told the Washington Post. "They are integral to the character of the museum. They belong to the public. They are now probably going into private hands. It's just a shame." Her criticism highlights concerns that these historically significant works will move from public access to private collections.
According to a Phillips Collection spokesperson, the specific items for deaccession were determined by the Board of Trustees in accordance with standards set by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and the American Association of Museum Directors (AAMD). The plans were also approved by an 11-person Members group, which includes descendants of Duncan and Marjorie Phillips but lacks fiduciary or administrative authority. "We understand and respect the concerns raised by Liza Phillips and the Members," the spokesperson said in an email, noting that the Board and staff engaged thoughtfully with the Members throughout the deaccession process.
The sale is part of a broader strategic plan overseen by CEO and Director Jonathan P. Binstock and the institution's board of trustees, involving the deaccession of 10 works in total. Seven additional works, including Pablo Picasso's sculpture "Tête de femme" (1950) and Milton Avery's "Spring Landscape" (1953), will be sold in a separate, yet-to-be-announced sale. The museum claims this initiative aligns with Duncan Phillips's original vision for an evolving art museum and will fund new acquisitions of works by living artists as well as collection care.
Among the three works heading to Sotheby's, O'Keeffe's painting, created at the Lake George estate of her husband Alfred Stieglitz's family in Upstate New York, is expected to command the highest price with an estimate of $5 to $6 million. Seurat's work carries an estimate of $3 to $5 million, while Dove's piece is expected to fetch between $1.2 and $1.8 million. These sales come at a time when Sotheby's has been making headlines with record-breaking auctions, including a $236 million Gustav Klimt sale.
The controversy has drawn sharp criticism from art world observers, including Wall Street Journal leisure and arts editor Eric Gibson, who called the sale "reckless" in an opinion piece. Gibson compared the situation to the Baltimore Museum of Art's controversial 2020 attempt to sell works by Andy Warhol, Brice Marden, and Clyfford Still to fund Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. "Binstock and his board are sacrificing time-tested objects of established and undisputed historical importance to acquire new works whose long-term value cannot be predicted," Gibson wrote, suggesting the institution should launch a fundraising campaign instead.
While museum watchdog organizations like the AAM and AAMD generally approve of deaccessioning works to fund future acquisitions and collection maintenance, they have historically discouraged using deaccession funds for daily operations or capital investments. The Baltimore Museum of Art ultimately backpedaled on selling two of its planned works just hours before their scheduled auction due to public opposition, demonstrating the contentious nature of such sales in the museum world.
The financial pressures behind the Phillips Collection's decision remain unclear, though the nonprofit museum reported a net loss of $3.6 million on tax documents last year, a significant change from the $4.65 million in income it recorded in 2023. Despite this loss, the institution reported total assets of $121.6 million in 2024, approximately $1 million more than the previous year. The sale represents a significant moment for the museum as it navigates between financial sustainability and preserving its founding mission of public access to important artworks.
