Christie's will auction 16 artworks from the collection of late media mogul S.I. Newhouse Jr. on May 18, with the event expected to bring in more than $450 million. The sale features museum-quality pieces including a Jackson Pollock drip painting and a Constantin Brancusi head, each valued at approximately $100 million.

Newhouse, former Condé Nast chief, built one of America's leading art collections through decisive purchases focused on quality and rarity. His collecting journey spanned Abstract Expressionists to contemporary artists, with pieces that marked pivotal moments in art history. The Pollock work represents a shift in art's center from Paris to New York.

This fourth tranche follows previous sales totaling $415.8 million, bringing the collection's total auction value past $1 billion. Victoria Newhouse, his widow, is selling as she downsizes to a smaller apartment. The collection has been carefully edited over decades, reflecting Newhouse's decisive approach to acquiring and letting go of artworks.