Pieces from the John and Mary Pappajohn art collection go up for auction for millions

Over his 94 years, Des Moines entrepreneur and philanthropist John Pappajohn and his wife, Mary, bought more than 300 pieces of artwork.

Some were inexpensive, like “The Resurrection,” the first piece of art he purchased with Mary from fellow University of Iowa grad Keith Achepohl. The couple bought the painting for $50 from a gallery in Des Moines a month after they married in 1961. At age 90, he told Iowa Magazine it still hung on the wall of his Florida home.

Some pieces were pricey, including the first major work the couple purchased, a work from artist Mark Rothko from 1969 that the Pappajohns bought for millions and then sold for “many millions,” he told Iowa Magazine.

Now some pieces from the John and Mary Pappajohn collection of art are going up for auction at Christie’s in New York City.

John Pappajohn died last year in April and his wife, Mary, died in March 2022. They left behind a legacy of art and entrepreneurship, donating millions during their lifetimes.

In Des Moines, where John Pappajohn started his insurance business and later his venture capital endeavors, the couple donated 30-plus sculptures from their personal collection in 2009 to create the 4.4-acre Pappajohn Sculpture Park downtown after they ran out of room on their lawn.

After John graduated from the University of Iowa in 1952, he met Mary, a University of Minnesota graduate, at a church gathering. They married in 1961 and settled in Des Moines. The couple shared a love of art, his growing from a class he took on art appreciation and hers from her related arts degree.

More: Iowa icon in business, arts and philanthropy, John Pappajohn, dies at 94

Which pieces from the John and Mary Pappajohn collection are up for auction?

At the May auction, the most-anticipated work comes from Jasper Johns, titled “0 through 9,” a sculp-metal and collage on canvas. The work was created in 1961 and is estimated to sell for $5 million to $7 million. Christie’s describes the piece as “iconic Jasper Johns, in which he uses layering to challenge formal notions of numerical symbols.”

Johns moved to his "Numbers" stage of his work in the second half of his career.

“Untitled #7,” by abstract artist Agnes Martin, combines abstract expressionism and minimalism. Christie’s experts expect it to sell for $3 million to $5 million. Martin painted the piece in 1996.

The auction house anticipates “Hanged Man,” a neon tubing mounted on metal piece by Bruce Nauman, to sell for $4 million to $6 million. Nauman created the work, the second in a group of three, in 1985.

Another piece up for auction is a travertine carving that artist Henry Moore created in 1969. “Animal Form” is expected to fetch $1 million to $1.5 million at auction.

Visitors to the Des Moines Art Center will recognize another piece by Moore, “Three Way Piece No. 1: Points,” which sits at the northeast corner of the art center's plaza. That piece was a gift from Principal Financial Group in honor of the Des Moines Art Center's 50th anniversary in 1998.

In all, Christie's notes that six major pieces will be sold as well as more during subsequent sales.

These pieces go up for auction May 14 during the 21st Century Evening Sales and on May 16 during the 20th Century Evening Sale.

Clarification: This story has been updated to reflect the number of pieces going up for auction. There are six major pieces going up for auction during the evening sales and additional works for sale during day auctions.

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, X, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Artwork held by John, Mary Pappajohn to be auctioned in New York