Money for Monet

Texas philanthropist's $250 million art collection goes on auction through Christie's

Interior of Anne H. Bass's New York City home. From left to right: Mark Rothko, Untitled (Shades of Red); Claude Monet, Le Parlement, soleil couchant; Rothko, No. 1.

Photo courtesy of Christie's

A collection of 12 artworks owned by late Fort Worth philanthropist Anne Hendricks Bass is hitting the auction block in May in a sale that’s expected to fetch more than $250 million.

The dozen artworks come from Bass’ Fifth Avenue apartment in New York City. She was the ex-wife of Sid Bass, the Fort Worth investor and oil heir whose net worth is estimated at $3.4 billion.

Anne H. Bass died of ovarian cancer in April 2020 at the age of 78. A longtime resident of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, she was an avid supporter of local nonprofits and arts organizations, including Jewel Charity Ball, Junior League, Texas Ballet Theater, the Cliburn, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and the Modern Art Museum.

“These 12 works form a singularly compelling narrative that speaks to both the power of connoisseurship, and the enduring relevance and radicality that characterize the greatest works of art,” says Christie’s, the famed auction house that’s selling "The Collection of Anne H. Bass."

The auction will take place in May during Christie’s annual week of 20th and 21st century art sales in New York.

Christie’s describes the collection as an assembly of “masterpieces that was profoundly rigorous yet deeply personal, shaped by her remarkably informed eye and female perspective in a world dominated by male collectors.”

“Guided by extensive knowledge and insight, Mrs. Bass acquired works and presented them in her home in a manner that established provocative dialogues across artistic periods — a poetic call and response spanning two centuries,” Christie’s adds.

Among the artworks being sold are:

Four paintings by Claude Monet collectively valued at $105 million to $165 million.
Two paintings by American artist Mark Rothko collectively valued at $105 million to $145 million.
A bronze sculpture by French artist Edgar Degas valued at $20 million to $30 million.
A painting by French artist Balthus valued at $4 million to $6 million.

The Anne Bass collection “represents everything that today’s buyers are seeking: masterpiece quality, rarity, incredible freshness to the market, and most of all, a reflection of a sophisticated collector who knew perfection when she saw it,” Bonnie Brennan, president of Christie’s Americas, says in a news release.

Ahead of the auction, selected pieces from the collection will be exhibited April 5-8 in London and April 20-21 in Hong Kong before being returned to New York.

“As a collector, Anne Bass was timeless,” says Alex Rotter, Christie’s chairman of 20th and 21st century art. “Truly passionate about art in all of its forms, she not only appreciated beautiful objects, but she lived with them. These paintings and sculptures were more than just possessions to Mrs. Bass; they were part of her home and her day-to-day life.”

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welcome to houston

Musical theater veteran joins prominent Houston company

Courtesy of Stages

Stages has named Valerie Rachelle as its new associate artist director.

A Houston theater company is adding an accomplished artist to its ranks. Stages announced that Valerie Rachelle will be the company’s new associate artistic director beginning in January 2026.

For more than a decade, Rachelle has been artistic director of the Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland, Oregon, where she oversaw artistic vision and operations. That theater specializes in musical theater performances offered in a cabaret setting.

Rachelle comes to Houston with a career spanning nearly 30 years as a director and choreographer. She has extensive experience in developing new musicals and plays for regional theaters and opera companies across the United States, including the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Sierra Repertory Theatre. She was appointed to her position at Stages following a nationwide search.

“I’m beyond thankful for this opportunity to join this incredible company, and I’m excited to be a part of a creative entity that has a strong mission and vision as Stages,” Rachelle said in a statement.

In her role with Stages, she will support artistic director Derek Charles Livingston with season planning and casting; liaise with artists, press, and staff; and coordinate day-to-day operations for the artistic department. She will also assist with crafting educational materials, direct and choreograph productions, and serve as the primary liaison with theatrical unions.

“We are thrilled to welcome Valerie to Stages in this role,” said Livingston. “I have seen her work as a director and director choreographer — she's excellent. Those skills combined with her experience as a theatre artistic director and manager only further fortify Stages' commitment to artistic excellence and community engagement.”

Born and raised in Eugene, Oregon, Rachelle began her career as a dancer and apprentice ballerina with the Eugene Ballet Company before earning her BFA in acting from California Institute of the Arts. She received her MFA in Directing from the University of California, Irvine. She has held teaching and directing positions at numerous institutions, including the University of Southern California, Southern Oregon University, Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and others. She has also served as a mentor through Statera Arts, an organization dedicated to gender equity in the arts.

Rachelle teaches musical theater, auditioning, and singing at Southern Oregon University when she isn’t on the road as a freelance director and choreographer. She’s also a classically trained singer and toured the world with her parents and their illusionist show as a child.

“Joining the team that has a long-standing reputation of excellence in theater is an honor,” Rachelle added.

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