LAMBERTVILLE, NJ.- Rago, Wright, and LAMA are proud to present The Acey and Bill Wolgin Collection at auction on October 18th. Through their generous support of both individual artists as well as institutions they cherished, the Wolgins became widely celebrated collectors known not only for the caliber of their collection, but also for their ongoing friendships with artists including Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenburg, Roy Lichtenstein, Joseph Beuys, Arman, Robert Indiana, and Robert Rauschenberg.

Leading this exemplary selection of more than 130 works is Alexander Calder's 1964 kinetic sculpture Red Tail (est. $500,000-700,000). Other notable works by Calder on offer include an untitled 1950 gouache painting and the small bronze sculpture Cheval II (est. $20,000-30,000), as well as the Thin Maze wearable sculpture (est. $30,000-50,000) from Acey Wolgin's distinguished collection of art jewelry.

As consummate patrons of the arts, Acey and Bill Wolgin did not just live with the art that they collected—they lived alongside the artists who made it. Known for the legendary parties thrown at their Philadelphia apartment, the pair is credited for having a significant role in elevating the City of Brotherly Love to the cultural destination that it is today. In the 1960s, Acey was a founding member of the Arts Council at the Young Women’s Hebrew Association, which helped spark the city’s contemporary art scene. In 1974, she became one of the first women elected to the board of the Philadelphia Art Museum, where she served as a trustee and trustee emeritus for the rest of her life.

When Robert Indiana’s LOVE stamp was released at that museum, Acey’s birthday party doubled as the event after-party. Among the attendees was the artist Arman, who absconded with a piece of the LOVE stamp-themed cake in order to seal it in resin. Several works by Arman are featured in the auction, including the 1986 sculpture Prisoner II (est. $15,000-25,000) as well as Jim Dine's Portrait of Arman and Iliana (est. $50,000-70,000).

Further significant works on offer by artists whom the Wolgins counted among their friends are Jasper Johns's Numbers, 0 through 9 (from the Lead Reliefs series) (est. $40,000-60,000), and Robert Rauschenberg's Anemone (est. $50,000-70,000). Surrounded by his parents’ collection from a young age, Richard Wolgin recalls meeting many of the artists whose works he knew intimately—especially memorable was the flaming red hair of Jeanne-Claude, who is represented in the collection with Christo, her husband and artistic partner, by Valley Curtain (Project for Colorado) (est. $50,000-70,000). Richard also remembers that he and his sister delighted in Harry Bertoia's sound sculpture, Untitled (Sonambient) (est. $50,000-70,000).

In addition to Acey and Bill's love for post-war painting and sculpture, Acey was an avid collector of art jewelry, and is even responsible for bringing some of it into being: Claes Oldenburg's 'Geometric Mouse' pendants (est. $5,000-7,000) were made at Acey's behest and are a unique, miniature translation of his 180-lb Geometric Mouse sculpture. Additional highlights include two exquisite works from Man Ray, the 1978 'Optic-Topic' mask (est. $10,000-15,000) and the 'Occultist' brooch (est. $15,000-20,000), as well as Robert Indiana's 'LOVE' ring (est. $3,000-5,000), Arman's 'Violin' necklace (est. $7,000-9,000), and Marisol's 'Self-portrait' ring (est. $5,000-7,000).

The works featured in The Acey and Bill Wolgin Collection represent a life lived through, and for, art — “It’s not just buying something to hang on the wall,” says Richard Wolgin, “it’s a piece of their lives, that are now part of our lives.”

Rago in Lambertville, NJ
Highlights from The Acey and Bill Wolgin Collection
Auction: The auction will begin at 11 am eastern on Wednesday, October 18th