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Looking for some new art for your apartment? Well, this probably isn't the right place, but a girl can dream. Later this month, MGM Resorts in Las Vegas is teaming up with the auction experts at Sotheby's to sell off 11 of its works by Pablo Picasso. The auction – which coincides with the artist's 140th birthday – will take place live in Vegas on Saturday, October 23.
Many of the available pieces previously hung in the aptly named Picasso restaurant in the Bellagio, a fine-dining destination that dishes out regional cuisines from Spain and France. Leading up to the auction, the pieces have been traveling the globe – stopping first in New York and Taipei. They'll be displayed in Hong Kong from October 7–11 before returning to Las Vegas to be featured in the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art from October 21–23. All exhibitions are open to the public and free to attend.
Why is the hotel offloading the art? The resort says it's reshaping 'its public fine art portfolio, deepening its focus on diversity and inclusion.'
'We welcome millions of visitors from around the world annually throughout our resorts, giving us a tremendous platform for showcasing diverse perspectives within the art community,' says MGM's chief hospitality officer Ari Kastrati. 'While diversity has long been in MGM Resorts’ DNA, we are committed to creating an even more inclusive collection that maintains the breadth of our existing portfolio while giving a greater voice to artists from under-represented communities.'
Of the 11 works being auctioned off, the star of the show is Picasso's Femme au béret rouge-orange, a portrait of muse Marie-Thérèse Walter, which is expected to go for $20–$30 million. Looking for a steal? The least expensive item is a ceramic pitcher that's estimated at $60,000–$80,000. Hey, at least you can see these pieces on display before they're scooped up.