Paul Picks a Selection of His Favourite Works by Artists Such as Sam Gilliam, Derek Fordjour, Frank Bowling and Mark Bradford.

Live Auction in New York 27 September

NEW YORK, 10 SEPTEMBER 2024 – American powerhouse sports agent, entrepreneur, and best-selling author Rich Paul will curate the latest edition of Sotheby’s Contemporary Curated auction, selecting an edit of superlative artworks that personally resonate with the vision of his own collection of Contemporary Art. Paul’s selection encompasses both abstraction and figuration, highlighting a number of Black American artists central to Paul’s collection and integral to his work highlighting representation on the board of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The live auction, presented in partnership with Silversea, will take place at Sotheby’s New York on September 27, with an exhibition on view from September 21 to 26.

Speaking to his own personal tastes in art, Paul remarked: “Art profoundly reflects and enhances personal experiences; it’s always been a gateway to self-expression for me. What began as a fascination with fashion evolved into a deeper appreciation for how art mirrors my personal journey and worldview. It’s not just about visual appeal—its true value lies in the emotional impact it has on experiences and feelings.”

Expanding further, Paul defined his role as curator: “My role as a curator is about more than just assembling a collection. It’s about fostering a deeper appreciation for art and using my platform to educate and inspire others, creating a legacy of thoughtful engagement.”

“Art, sports, and entertainment are all interconnected—they’re forms of expression that reflect our world. It’s not just about collecting; it’s about enriching the conversation and inspiring others to see art as a vital part of life.”
– RICH PAUL

“This collaboration highlights Rich’s deep connection with storytelling through art. As an established collector, Rich is committed to education and accessibility, empowering young artists and the athletes that he represents.”
-HALEIGH STODDARD, SOTHEBY’S SPECIALIST, HEAD OF CONTEMPORARY CURATED

Since 2013, Sotheby’s Contemporary Curated auctions have invited influential figures from fields as diverse as music, business, fashion, film, and culture to curate a group of works by the most sought-after post-war and contemporary artists that showcase their unique taste and interests. Previous curators in New York include Oprah Winfrey, Kim Jones, Swizz Beatz, Cynthia Erivo, Kevin Love and Karlie Kloss, among others. Anchored by exceptional works of art, each tastemaker adds a unique editorial point of view to each sale.

Rich Paul has reshaped the landscape of sports representation since founding KLUTCH Sports Group in 2012. With a groundbreaking approach that puts athletes first, Paul has helped top talent across the NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB and now global football build careers that extend far beyond their sport. His influence reaches across industries as he joined the Board of Directors of United Talent Agency (UTA) in 2020 after announcing their partnership in 2019.

Rich Paul featuring Sam Gilliam, Cielo, Derek Fordjour, No. 30, & Frank Bowling, Sinon.

Recognized by GQ as “PowerBroker of the Year” and featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as “The King Maker,” Paul has been a driving force in shaping the sports and media world. His advocacy was pivotal in overturning the controversial “Rich Paul Rule,” which would have restricted non-degree-holding agents from representing NCAA athletes.

Paul’s reach goes beyond sports—he co-founded ADOPT, a creative agency focusing on sport, wellness, and tech, and serves on the boards of LACMA, Designer Brands Inc., and Live Nation. In 2023, Paul added New York Times best-selling author to his list of achievements with the release of his memoir, Lucky Me.

CONTEMPORARY CURATED
Live Auction in New York 27 September
Works Selected by Rich Paul

Sam Gilliam
Cielo
Acrylic on beveled edge canvas
51 by 69 ½ in.
Executed in 1972.

Cielo is among the most significant examples of Sam Gilliam’s celebrated cycle of Beveled Edge paintings, which he executed in the early 1970s. Exemplifying Gilliam’s groundbreaking approach to abstract painting and his conflation of the one and two dimensional, Cielo showcases a fluid manipulation of vibrant color and space. Gilliam’s work challenges traditional perceptions, earning him a distinguished place among the Washington Color School artists and cementing his legacy in major collections such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Frank Bowling
Sinon
73 by 32 in.
Executed in 1974.

Painted during a pivotal moment in Frank Bowling’s career, Sinon marks his transition from figuration to abstraction, highlighting his mastery of acrylic paint to create richly textured, luminous compositions. Drawing from the tradition of Color Field painting, this visually striking poured painting embodies Bowling’s experimentation with the ideas of chance and controlled accident, and displays his ongoing concern with colour, surface and process. Throughout his career, Bowling continuingly engaged with the material properties of painting, informed by decades of experimentation and dialogue with scientists and paint makers. Born in Guyana and working between London and New York, Bowling has spent over sixty years redefining the boundaries of painting, merging abstraction with personal and historical narratives.

Derek Fordjour
N. 30
Acrylic, oil, charcoal and oil pastel on newspaper and cardboard mounted on canvas
29 1/2 by 24 in.
Executed in 2018.

N. 30 is an outstanding example of Derek Fordjour’s investigation into the genre of portraiture, vibrating with the exuberant visual energy that defines his oeuvre. This intimate canvas showcases Fordjour’s signature collage technique, incorporating materials like cardboard and newspaper to create richly textured surfaces that amplify the composition’s dynamism and vitality. As displayed in the present work, Fordjour explores a wide emotional spectrum in his art, resonating with both celebration and melancholy while bridging physical and conceptual realms. Rooted in his Ghanaian heritage and informed by his role as an influential educator, Fordjour’s works often feature athletes, musicians, and performers, capturing an intricate blend of bodily and emotional depth.

Mark Bradford
Tina
Mixed media collage on canvas
101 by 130 ⅞ in.
Executed in 2006.

Mark Bradford’s Tina from 2006 is a powerful symphony of abstraction achieved through a meticulous layering of singed end papers and shimmering foil. Drawing on his experience in his mother’s hair salon, Bradford incorporates found materials that evoke the social and material textures of his urban Los Angeles community. Created during a pivotal period in the mid-2000s, Tina reflects Bradford’s exploration of the racial and socio-economic geography of his home city, with its textured, labyrinthine surface recalling the dynamism of urban life and modernist abstractions. Bradford’s work bridges the themes both personal and political, transforming everyday materials into poignant visual narratives of marginalized communities.

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