Known to many as the “queen of the beauty industry”, Sydell Miller was guided in every aspect of her life by her family’s mantra: “Think, Believe, Dream, Dare.” From her very first forays into fashion and the beauty business, to her innumerable philanthropic endeavors, and the collection of fine art and design that she surrounded herself with, Miller lived a life of beauty, both inside and out.

This November, Miller’s extraordinary collection will take center stage as the crown jewel of Sotheby’s marquee sales week in New York. Encompassing masterpieces of Modern and Contemporary art, sculpture, and icons of design, this collection unites the finest works across periods, styles, and forms.

Reflecting how Sydell Miller lived with her collection – where fine art and design coexisted in perfect harmony – approximately 100 works will be presented together in landmark Evening and Day sales at Sotheby’s New York this November, with additional works offered in sales throughout this Fall, expected to achieve in the region of $200m. The sales will be preceded by a series of curated exhibitions in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Taipei and Los Angeles.

Together, the works speak to the awe-inspiring power of beauty in all its forms: from an enthralling example of Monet’s iconic Nymphéas to Kandinsky’s explosion of geometric exuberance; from Picasso’s first depiction of a female artist to an elegant Matisse portrait from wartime France; from an extraordinary work by Yves Klein executed at the height of his career; to unique and defining commissions by François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne.

A further selection of works showcasing the full breadth of Miller’s collecting pursuits will be featured in three dedicated online sales. The first online sale will celebrate Miller’s keen eye for fashion, followed by an auction celebrating the collection’s expansive range of ‘objets d’art’, and another featuring exquisite furniture, decorative art, and silver. Miller’s impeccable taste in jewelry will also be showcased in Sotheby’s sales of Magnificent Jewels and Fine Jewels in December as part of The Luxury Sales series.

Miller’s story began in earnest in the late 1950s, when Sydell Lubin sat in the chair of young stylist and salon owner Arnold Miller for a hair appointment. A smitten Arnold asked her out on a date, and when she inquired “which night”, his response was simply “all of them.” One week and a whirlwind succession of dates later, they were engaged. Together they created Ardell, introducing eyelashes as a professional salon service, and later co-founded Matrix Essentials in 1980, the most innovative professional salon company and the largest manufacturer of professional hair and beauty products. After her husband’s passing in the 90s, Miller took the helm of Matrix as CEO and President, leading the company to unprecedented success. A woman whose passion, drive, influence, and integrity touched more than seven million women per week internationally, Mrs. Miller was an inspiration and role model to women in business. A visionary entrepreneur, Sydell believed that beauty didn’t stop at the hairline, which led her to create the day spa experience, accessible to all women.

Miller was also the recipient of many prestigious awards. She was the first non-hairdresser elected to the National Cosmetology Association’s Hall of Fame, named one of the “Top 50 Women Business Owners in America” by Working Women Magazine, and received the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation Legacy Award, creating countless scholarships for cosmetology students.

Her remarkable legacy lives on in these philanthropic endeavors, and in tribute to her commitment to charity, a portion of the auction proceeds will benefit Cleveland Clinic Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center, Cleveland Museum of Art, and Sydell L. Miller Elephant Care & Visitor Center at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.