The still waters of beauty run deep

It is a coincidence of timing that many of our stories in this issue coalesce around the theme of American achievement, but we could not lead with a finer representative. Tom Brady is an icon of sporting excellence, unparalleled in his longevity and success as an NFL quarterback. Read our interview on the memories and memorabilia of his journey and learn about the watch collection that’s even better than you knew, ahead of his near autobiographical auction next month.

Michael S. Smith, the interior designer who received America’s greatest commission—to redecorate the White House for President Barack Obama—has now turned his talents to a home for himself and his partner James Costos, the former U.S. ambassador to Spain, on the Balearic island of Mallorca. The island reminds Smith of his childhood in Orange County, California, but when creating the villa’s interiors he surrendered to the local vernacular, employing Spanish craftsmanship throughout.

In other pages, read an excerpt from Lili Anolik’s new book, “Didion & Babitz,” and learn how writer Eve Babitz ended up playing chess in the nude with Marcel Duchamp. It was all arranged by photographer Julian Wasser, who shot the pair over the course of several games. Wasser allowed Babitz to choose the famous photo that made its way to the public. In that image, her hair covers her face, rendering her somewhat anonymous. But the contact sheet from that day, which runs alongside the text, reveals a different story: She is fully present, smiling and engaged in the game.

Elsewhere, one of our staff columnists, Sotheby’s 20th-century design expert Jodi Pollack, unpacks the contributions of Louis Comfort Tiffany to the American art and design landscape through the lens of a remarkable window. Having served as the first design director at the family company, Tiffany & Co., he went on to found Tiffany Studios and to master glass as an artistic medium.

Away from the U.S., we visit Christian Moueix at his new winery designed by his friends Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, and stop by the restaurant in London in which Lucian Freud ate breakfast nearly every morning for 15 years.

Claude Monet’s “Nymphéas” will make its auction debut this month, as part of the collection of the late beauty industry magnate and philanthropist Sydell Miller. The work marked a radical shift in Monet’s approach to capturing waterlilies, the subject that would become his magnum opus. The painting’s palette has informed the colors of our three editorial acts.

In a fusion of the above themes, we turned to veteran photographer Stephen Shore for the latest installment of The Artist Portfolio. Shot in his own garden in upstate New York, the images take their power, as Monet did, from the greatest inspiration of all—nature.

Kristina O’Neill, Editor in Chief
Instagram: @kristina_oneill

Nurturing new growth from old wood

It is an absolute thrill to introduce myself as the new Editor in Chief of Sotheby’s Magazine. As we mark Sotheby’s 280th anniversary, it is an honor to present a new vision, which celebrates our rich heritage while introducing fresh storytelling that resonates with our global audience.

As you will read over the coming weeks, our relaunch issue emphasizes our commitment to excellence, with features covering creative pioneers from Titus Kaphar to Lee Miller and cultural champions from Dorothy Miller to Reed and Delphine Krakoff. I am delighted to have Lucas Oliver Mill, Orna Guralnik and Ruby Guralnik Dawes bring their insights to new columns that will consider collectors as an almost anthropological type, unpacking walls and unpicking minds, respectively. We’ve also tapped our very own specialists to share their wisdom on the breadth of art and objects that pass through Sotheby’s salerooms. These articles, among others, showcase the dynamic content you can expect from us.

At Sotheby’s, we celebrate art, culture and luxury, while fostering a platform for dialogue and discovery. Our mission is to bring you closer to the artists, collectors and visionaries shaping our world. We are not just observers but active participants in the grand conversation of culture. My hope is that you will join our community and, from these stories, cultivate new ways of seeing.

I am excited about the journey ahead and look forward to sharing it with you.

Kristina O’Neill, Editor in Chief
Instagram: @kristina_oneill