Robert Pattinson Is a Curator Now

Robert Pattinson with Willem de Kooning's Untitled (1964).

By Sam Gaskin – 8 September 2022, New York

Actor Robert Pattinson has selected seven works to make immortal in Sotheby’s Contemporary Curated auction, which takes place in New York on 30 September.

He chose pieces by Willem de Kooning, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Richard Serra, Julie Mehretu, Thomas Houseago, Anselm Kiefer, and Genieve Figgis.

‘To be able to experience and have a dialogue with these works according to my taste — and to place massive titans of 20th century art next to living artists — has been really satisfying,’ he said.

Pattinson’s tastes differ from those of the characters who made him famous. In sparkly vampire romance Twilight (2008) Edward Cullen prefers blood, while DC Comics’ The Batman (2022) has a taste for vengeance.

Genieve Figgis, Kissing by the Window (2005). Acrylic on canvas. Estimate: US $30,000–40,000. Courtesy Sotheby’s.

Pattinson described the Figgis painting Kissing by the Window (2015) in vampiric terms, saying ‘there is a creaminess and sensuality to all of Figgis’ paintings, but also a poison at the same time.’

‘It kind of feels like you’re eating a cake and you chip your tooth on something in it and you can’t figure out exactly what chipped your tooth,’ he said without suggesting human vertebrae.

‘What I look for is when a piece has its own language. It doesn’t necessarily feel like it just exists for its own sake and has a presence that hums with a bit of life,’ Pattinson continued. ‘It has the ability to communicate with you on a kind of primordial level.’

Richard Serra, Rotation #9 (2011). Paint stick on hand-made paper. Estimate: US $200,000–300,000). Courtesy Sotheby’s.

‘I sort of sway between things that feel very profound and cosmic and alien. Then even on the other side, I like subversive, naughty, slightly dangerous stuff as well,’ said the real life Pattinson, who will gradually grow old and die.

Previous celebrities Sotheby’s has invited to curate shows include Oprah Winfrey, Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou, DJs Swizz Beatz and Steve Aoki, fashion designers Margherita Missoni and Kim Jones, English singer Ellie Goulding, and actress Cynthia Erivo.

Works in the upcoming Contemporary Curated auction will go on view at Sotheby’s New York on the Upper East Side from 23 to 29 September.—[O]