Unknown Art Collection Predicted to Generate $180 Million in Auction Proceeds

In the quiet town of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, a remarkable art collection has been hidden in plain sight for years. The Weis family, known for their visits to New York's galleries, has amassed an impressive collection spanning various art forms, including paintings, sculptures, and ceramics.

The collection, owned by Robert F. Weis, the former chairman of Weis Markets, and his wife, Patricia G. Ross Weis, features works by renowned artists such as Mark Rothko, Henri Matisse, and Max Ernst. The collection, which will be auctioned off at Christie's marquee New York art auctions in November, is expected to bring in more than $180 million.

One of the collection's highlights is a blazing red and orange painting by Mark Rothko from 1955, valued at around $50 million, and a 1932 Picasso portrait of his lover Marie-Thérèse, valued at around $40 million. The collection also includes a red and blue geometric Mondrian from 1939-1941, previously unsold at Christie's with an estimate of up to $2.5 million, now with an estimate of $20 to 30 million.

The Weis family kept the majority of their art collection in their modest ranch-style house in Sunbury. The collection features handmade ceramics by their children alongside works by celebrated British potters Lucie Rie and Hans Coper. One unique piece is a 12-foot-tall bronze sculpture by Julian Schnabel, initially disagreed upon by the couple but later appreciated by Patricia Weis.

Patricia Weis had a keen eye for art, as evidenced by her decision to match the couch cushions to a 1937 interior scene by Matisse, which is expected to sell for $15 million to $25 million. The collection represents a bygone era, described as a "unicorn" by art adviser Wendy Cromwell.

Following the deaths of Robert Weis in 2015 and Patricia Weis in 2024, their three children are selling the 80 works. The auction will be closely watched as a bellwether for the art trade, which has contracted three years in a row amid geopolitical instability, rising inflation, and changing tastes of a new generation of buyers.

Robert Weis enjoyed purchasing paintings at discounts after they failed to sell at auction. Christie's offered the family a financial guarantee, agreeing to pay a minimum price for the collection in advance, regardless of whether every object finds a buyer. This move is expected to add confidence to potential buyers and ensure the collection's successful sale.

The auction of the Weis collection promises to be an exciting event in the art world, offering a glimpse into a bygone era and the passion of a family who cherished art.