Contemporary Art & Design presents Christina & Claes Lindquist Collection
Christina & Claes Lindquist Collection
It all started when the Lindquists saw some exhibitions in London and Paris in the early 2000s. There they were surprised by how exciting photography was compared to paintings, which they had previously collected on a smaller scale. Claes and Christina explain:
‘The first two works we bought were one by David LaChapelle in colour and one by Herb Ritts in black and white. When we hung them up at home, all the guests in our home stopped, looked at them and asked questions. This had never happened before, even though we had a fair number of high-quality paintings by famous Swedish artists. The photographs created interest and curiosity; they stood out in our home.’
Since then, the couple's photo collection has grown. The Lindquist Collection is now one of the largest Swedish art collections with more than 550 photographs of high international quality. The majority of the names represented are famous fashion photographers, but some 50 Swedish photographers are also included. Lindquist's photographs have been exhibited around the world, including at Louisiana in Denmark, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and Abecita Popkonst and Foto in Borås. In 2021, Claes and Christina Lindquist opened Falsterbo Photo Art Museum with the aim of giving southern Sweden a new focal point for photographic art. Their private collection forms the basis for the museum's exhibitions.
You've seen a lot of photography during your years as a collector, what is it that makes you attracted to a specific motif?
‘We are interested in what stands out, what is unique. The photographs can be slightly provocative and we like to go our own way. We are not ‘go with the flow’ kind of people, who just buy and collect what everyone else has. We focus our collecting on internationally recognized photographers with works of the absolute highest quality, exhibited in the largest museums worldwide, but also new exciting names that are on the rise. We are also happy to add exciting Swedish photographers.’
When asked if Claes and Christina have any personal favourites in their collection, they immediately mention Herb Ritt's motif ‘Naomi Seated, Hollywood, 1991’ and go on to say that they have three copies of this motif in their collection, one of which they are now selling. In addition, everything by Helmut Newton is a favourite, besides those now sold at Bukowskis, they own another sixty of his pictures. Now they are thinning out their large collection, duplicates are sold and artistry is getting updated, making room for new purchases.
Do you have any advice for someone who wants to start collecting photography?
‘Always buy only original limited edition photographs. Buy from reputable galleries in Berlin, Paris, London and New York. In Sweden, there are also a number of very good photo gallerists. If you buy at auction, buy from large, well-known auction houses. Buy something that not everyone else has, stand out, create your own personal style. Be courageous!’
The Christina & Claes Lindquist Collection includes catalogue numbers 260 and 329-361.
View the collection
The collection will be sold at Contemporary Art & Design
Viewing: April 9–14, Berzelii Park 1, Stockholm
Open weekdays 11 AM – 6 PM, weekends 11 AM – 4 PM
Live auction: 15–16 April, Arsenalsgatan 2, Stockholm
Read more about Contemporary Art & Design
Selected works from Christina & Claes Lindquist Collection at Contemporary Art & Design
Estimate
1 500 000 - 1 800 000 SEK
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Stockholm
Andreas Rydén
Head Specialist, Art, Deputy Managing Director
+46 (0)728 58 71 39
Stockholm
Louise Wrede
Specialist Contemporary Art, Private Sales
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Stockholm
Karin Aringer
Specialist Photographs and Contemporary Art
+46 (0)702 63 70 57