Regarded as the king of Surrealism, he bought and sold some of the best works across Surrealism, Minimalism and pop art.
During his 35-year career as a dealer, from 1945-80, he worked with artists, gallerists and collectors through his international network of galleries in New York, Paris, Milan, Geneva and Madrid.
He staged pivotal exhibitions of works by artists including Max Ernst and René Magritte.
The collection of art dealer Alexander Iolas (1907-1987) is being offered at Sotheby’s, London on May 25. Iolas was born in Alexandria in Egypt (pictured here in the 1920s) and founded The Iolas Gallery 1955.
Now regarded as a forbearer to modern-day contemporary art dealer giants such as Larry Gagosian, Iolas was overlooked after his death in 1987.
However, in recent years his talent has begun to be celebrated and a 2014 exhibition was entitled Alexander the Great after his nickname.
Now Sotheby’s will offer more than 150 lots from his collection on May 25.
With estimates ranging between £100 to £150,000, the works are by artists including Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso.
Georgina Gold, senior director at Sotheby’s Impressionist & Modern Art department in London, said: “In many ways, Alexander Iolas lived a surreal life, and in constantly looking to the future and to the past, he was a Janus-like figure whose imprint on art history should not be underestimated.”
