A Legacy of Beauty: The Collection of Sydell Miller Sotheby’s Evening Auction, New York, November 18, 2024
Photo: a detail from the Millers’ Nympheas by Monet, courtesy of Sothebys.
Tonight, Sotheby’s presents A Legacy of Beauty: The Collection of Sydell Miller, a landmark auction celebrating the extraordinary life and vision of a woman whose journey took her from humble beginnings to building a beauty empire, to becoming one of the most significant art collectors of her time.
Sydell Miller's passion for art blossomed after her business success, proving that with dedication, vision, and a love for beauty, anyone can curate a collection that leaves a lasting legacy.
From Humble Beginnings to Business Titan
Sydell’s story began in Cleveland, Ohio, in the late 1950s. While working as a fashion buyer, she visited a local salon where she met Arnold Miller, a talented young stylist and salon owner who had been recommended to her by a friend. Their connection was instant.
A smitten Arnold asked her 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, the two were engaged and married shortly after.
Combining their talents—Arnold’s creativity and Sydell’s business acumen—they transformed his salon into a hub of innovation. They expanded upon the early success of the salon by venturing into womenswear and salon products.
In every endeavor, their belief in kindness to others and the beauty of generosity guided them. Together, they created Ardell (a fusion of their first names), introducing professional eyelash extensions and forever changing the beauty industry by making false eyelashes a salon service.
In 1980, they founded Matrix, which became one of the largest and most innovative manufacturers of professional haircare and beauty products in the world. With Arnold as the creative innovator and spokesperson, and Sydell handling everything from marketing and accounting to human resources, they empowered individuals to tap into their personal beauty and artistry—creating thousands of local jobs in the process.
Sydell believed that beauty did not stop at the hairline, leading her to pioneer the concept of the day spa and teach salon owners how to offer new services, making the spa experience accessible to all women.
After Arnold’s passing in 1992, Sydell took over as CEO and President of Matrix, more than doubling their annual sales before selling the company in 1994. Her achievements earned her national recognition, including a spot on America’s Top 50 Women Business Owners and induction into the National Cosmetology Hall of Fame. A woman whose passion, drive, influence, and integrity touched more than seven million women per week internationally, Sydell was an inspiring role model to women in business.
A Passion for Art: Building a World-Class Collection
Having devoted a decades-long career to the business of beauty, Sydell then focused her full attention on family, philanthropy, and collecting. With renewed time and energy, she began collecting artwork in earnest, guided by her innate taste and informed by countless family visits to galleries, museums, and auctions.
"I collect pieces I love. Each piece I collect speaks to me in a language of art and design and always excited me when I saw them for the first time. Even today these pieces still make my heart flutter with joy. I never collected from just one period in time or style. Always collected things that I connected to through their beauty," she once said.
Her collection includes 25 exceptional lots going under the hammer this evening, with approximately ninety works to be offered in subsequent auctions. The sales are expected to achieve around $200 million. Highlights include:
Claude Monet’s Nymphéas (1914–17), a masterpiece from his iconic water lily series, estimated at $60 million. This work, appearing at auction for the first time, captures the interplay of light and water, blurring the lines between figuration and abstraction. It anticipates the gestural marks and colors that would come to define Abstract Expressionism in New York thirty years later.
Pablo Picasso’s La Statuaire (1925), estimated at $30 million, represents his first exploration of a female artist in his compositions. The canvas unites Surrealist symbolism, the monumentality and plasticity of Neo-Classical imagery, and the disruptive fragmentation of Cubism. Acquired by Miller in 1999 from MoMA founding trustee Stephen Clark, this painting is a pivotal work in Picasso's oeuvre.
Wassily Kandinsky’s Weisses Oval (White Oval) (1919), estimated at $15–20 million, is one of the few pieces he created while still in Russia before teaching at the Bauhaus. Exhibited in several critical early shows, including retrospectives and a 1952 exhibition that traveled to Boston, San Francisco, and Cleveland, this abstract composition marks a turning point in his Expressionist vision.
Other standout pieces include:
Henry Moore’s Reclining Mother and Child (1975–76), a deeply emotive bronze sculpture estimated at $8–12 million. This work epitomizes Moore’s exploration of familial bonds through modernist abstraction.
René Magritte’s Les Troubles du cœur, a surrealist masterpiece reflecting themes of love and mystery, estimated at $2.5–3.5 million.
Henri Matisse’s Jeune fille en robe rose (1942), a luminous portrait painted during his Nice period, estimated at $3–5 million. The work captures a young woman in a contemplative pose, bathed in the soft light characteristic of Matisse’s French Riviera years.
Yves Klein’s Relief Éponge bleu sans titre (RE 28) (1961), estimated at $8–12 million, is a sculptural composition using natural sea sponges soaked in Klein’s signature International Klein Blue, evoking the infinite and the immaterial.
Jean Dubuffet’s Le Cérémonieux (1961), estimated at $2.5–3.5 million, is a vibrant example of his textured, tactile painting style, blending humor and critique.
On the design side, the collection features unique commissions, including:
François-Xavier Lalanne’s Troupeau d'Éléphants dans les Arbres Table (2001), estimated at $4–6 million. This whimsical gilt-bronze octagonal table, depicting a parade of seven gilded elephants marching under an African tree, was created exclusively for Miller through renowned architect Peter Marino. Given the high demand for Lalanne's work and the exclusivity of this commission, it is likely to exceed its estimate.
Claude Lalanne’s Nénuphars Consoles (2002), two exquisite bronze pieces estimated at $1.5–2 million each, inspired by water lily leaves and reflecting Lalanne’s mastery in blending art and nature. These unique consoles were specially commissioned by Miller and add elegance to this unparalleled ensemble.
An Art-Filled Home and a Life of Elegance
Sydell’s art-filled home was set across a whole floor of The Bristol in West Palm Beach. Within those walls, one could see the evolution of a collector over many decades—a pioneering journey of art and design that is entirely unique.
The project was the result of a close collaboration between Sydell and her daughter, Stacie Halpern. Stacie played a significant role in the interior design, while Sydell oversaw the curation of fine art and design. Together, they created a richly layered aesthetic dialogue spanning the history of art from the 18th through 21st centuries.
Such a passion for beauty was not limited to her collecting endeavors. Sydell was an exceptional entertainer, a graceful hostess, a fashion icon, and a beloved individual. She was, in the words of those close to her, “as sweet as the chocolate she loved.” She epitomized elegance—both through her sophisticated style and her nurturing personality. Despite her unparalleled career accomplishments, it was her roles as friend, sister, mother, and grandmother that she cherished most.
A Life of Philanthropy and Generosity
While Sydell’s passion for art defined her later years, her commitment to giving back was equally profound. Guided by a prevailing spirit of generosity, the Miller name became synonymous with charitable giving—another avenue by which her admirable beliefs benefited others.
She served on the boards of organizations such as the American Cancer Society of Palm Beach, BBSI, the Cleveland Clinic, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, the Norton Museum of Art, the Palm Beach Civic Association, and the Palm Beach County United Way.
Her most visible legacy is the Sydell & Arnold Miller Family Pavilion at the Cleveland Clinic, which houses the Heart and Vascular Institute, and the Sydell L. Miller Elephant Care & Visitor Center at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
Proceeds from tonight’s auction will further her philanthropic impact, benefiting:
The Cleveland Clinic Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center,
The Cleveland Museum of Art, and
The Sydell L. Miller Elephant Care & Visitor Center.
"I have given passionately and with great honor to many organizations. I have always believed in doing my part to lead by example and make a difference for all," Sydell once remarked, encapsulating the spirit that guided her life.
An Inspiration for New Collectors
Sydell Miller’s story is an inspiration for anyone considering starting their own collection. She began her art journey only after her business success, diving straight into the deep end by acquiring blue-chip masterpieces. Her experience proves that even new collectors can build significant collections if they follow their passions and prioritize quality.
Collecting is about connection, not quantity. Sydell’s approach—never collecting from just one period or style but choosing pieces that she connected to through their beauty—created an environment that was uniquely her own, filled with elegance and meaning.
As Jodi Pollack, Sotheby’s Chairman and Co-Worldwide Head of 20th Century Design, observed:
"Part of the power of Sydell Miller’s collection is in how she creatively and harmoniously blended together art and design to create an interior that is both unique and overwhelmingly elegant. The magical dialogues she choreographed between her art and objects bring new life and energy to each work, which is both inspiring and a testament to Sydell’s exquisite taste, originality, and boldness."
A Historic Evening
Tonight’s sale is not just an auction—it is a celebration of Sydell Miller’s extraordinary life. From Monet’s tranquil water lilies to Lalanne’s playful elephants, each piece tells a story of innovation, vision, and the pursuit of beauty.
As collectors bid on these remarkable works, they will also contribute to causes that embody Sydell’s spirit of generosity. Join Sotheby’s this evening to witness the transformative power of art and philanthropy, and to honor the legacy of a woman whose life was truly a masterpiece.
Sydell Miller passed away on February 25, 2024, at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy as a visionary in both business and the arts. Her Palm Beach estate, La Rêverie, set a record when it sold for $111 million in 2019, reflecting the grandeur and elegance that characterized her life.
At Vitruvian Arts, we specialize in guiding collectors through blue-chip art acquisitions—whether in galleries, at auctions, or through private collections. Our expertise lies in secondary market private sales, helping collectors build legacy collections that stand the test of time. To learn more about the art of collecting and creating your own enduring collection, follow us at @vitruvianarts.
