Sotheby’s will auction the Theodore and Ruth Baum collection’s 1967 Rothko in New York on November 16, 2026, with an estimate of $10‑15 million. The red‑and‑orange canvas was acquired in 1983 and has become the cornerstone of their postwar abstraction collection. The painting’s bold hues echo Rothko’s exploration of color and emotion, a pivot that spurred the Baums into a broader contemporary art pursuit. Sotheby’s said the auction will feature more than 20 works.
Ed Ruscha’s 1964 Dimple, Joan Mitchell’s 1960 Green Book of Barbara Guest, and Warhol’s 1984 The Scream (After Edvard Munch) are among the pieces up for sale.
Piece also includes European pioneers Piero Manzoni, Yves Klein and Lucio Fontana, underscoring the Baums’ interest in artists who challenged traditional media.
Sotheby’s estimates that the total sales from the Baums collection will exceed $100 million, with the Rothko alone expected to command a high six‑figure price.
The evening sale will be followed by a day auction on November 17, and additional works are slated for sale through 2027, allowing collectors to build on a legacy that spanned Palm Beach, Southampton, New Jersey and New York homes.