George Michael’s Art collection is to be sold in March at Christie’s auction house in London, where works by Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst and Bridget Riley will all feature. More than 200 pieces from the much-missed and respected singer’s lifetime accumulation of art and collectables will be available to the highest bidder at the March 14 auction and online sale from March 8-15.

The former Wham frontman, soloist and philanthropist died tragically at the age of just 53, on Christmas Day 2016. During his hugely successful music career, he was able to amass a wide range of fine art, besides pieces by Emin, Hirst and Riley, the singer and songwriter also collected works produced by Marc Quinn and the Irish-born contemporary conceptual artist Michael Craig-Martin.

End of a world tour for the collection

The Christie’s sale will mark the end of a mini world tour for George’s artworks, which by then will have taken in stopovers in Shanghai, Los Angeles, New York and Hong Kong. There will still be the chance though for British fans and art lovers to enjoy a public viewing of the intriguing collection prior to the sale itself, at the London auction rooms March 9 - 14.

Something for every pocket

There should be plenty of interest in the sale of the private collection and an unexpected opportunity perhaps for members of the general public to purchase a slice of the superstar’s former life, with prices expected to range from just £400 to the other extreme at around £1.5m when the bidding begins in earnest.

Philanthropy to continue after his death

News of the superstar’s many philanthropic gestures – which had gone largely unpublicised previously - surfaced after his death, with several charities believed to have benefitted extensively from his kind-hearted generosity over the years. Childline, the Terrence Higgins Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support have been among those to enjoy his vast financial support.

Christie’s have announced that the eagerly anticipated sale will enable those good deeds to continue in the years to come, as proceeds from the auction will ultimately be passed on to several good causes. In an announcement on Christie’s company website, their global president Jussi Pylkkänen confirmed that the leading British auction house “are delighted to be organising this major auction of The Collection of George Michael.”

The “Careless Whisper” and “Jesus to a Child” singer was well-admired and respected as a staunch backer of the creative talents of many British artists during his lifetime, which his art collection clearly confirms. To be able to combine that interest with the continuation of providing funds for charitable causes makes the Christie’s event an exciting proposition.