Abell Auction Co. Presents the Estate of Rachel Rosenthal: Art, Theatre and the Avant-Garde

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Abell Auction Co. is delighted to showcase the estate of Rachel Rosenthal on November 11, celebrating the life and legacy of the internationally acclaimed performance artist and eco-feminist whose trailblazing work bridged the worlds of theater, visual art and social engagement. Live bidding starts at 10 a.m. PST.

Rare art, jewelry and personal artificats from the estate of acclaimed performance artist and eco-feminist Rachel Rosenthal will head to online auction on Nov. 11. www.abell.com

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The highly anticipated sale, offering over 120 lots, will unveil an extraordinary selection of fine jewelry, original art, photographs, stage-worn garments and personal artifacts spanning Rosenthal’s five-decade creative journey. Collectors and admirers will discover treasures gifted by leading figures in the women’s movement and postwar modern art circles. Together, they illuminate the visionary force of an artist who redefined performance and feminist art in Los Angeles and beyond. Auction highlights include:

Performance & Personal Artifacts

• The 1989 OBIE Award, among off-Broadway’s highest honors, presented to Rachel Rosenthal for her groundbreaking solo performance “Rachel’s Brain” ($300–$500)
• Two bespoke kimonos worn by Rosenthal in performances during her Instant Theater era ($500–$700)
• Archival framed display of original stage performance photographs ($400–$600)

Works by Rachel Rosenthal

• “Annunciation,” 1989, acrylic and mixed media on board (estimate: $600–$800)
• “Exodus: No More Man’s Best Friend,” oil on canvas diptych ($500–$700)

Works by Other Artists

• “Head in Profile” by Marc Chagall, pen and ink on paper with inscription ($800–$1,200)
• “Target with Four Faces” by Jasper Johns, screenprint on paper with inscription ($7,000–$10,000)
• “30 Eaux-Fortes Barrées pour les Métamorphoses d’Ovide” by Pablo Picasso, portfolio of etchings ($6,000–$8,000)
• “The Intimate Collage” by Betye Saar, portfolio of six mixed-media collages with inscription ($3,000–$5,000)
• “Femmage” by Miriam (Mimi) Schapiro, mixed-media collage with handwritten note ($2,000–$3,000)

Jewelry & Decorative Arts

• French 18K yellow gold enamel, onyx and diamond compact ($1,200–$1,800)
• Belle Époque Turler platinum, diamond, sapphire and pearl watch ($400–$600)
• Belgian silver tea and coffee service by Wolfers Frères ($1,500–$2,000)

“Rachel Rosenthal was both a pioneer of performance art and a profound cultural thinker whose legacy continues to inspire artists, scholars and collectors worldwide,” said Abell Auction Co. Vice President Todd Schireson. “These pieces are enduring testaments to her role in shaping feminist and performance art histories, and expanding the conversation around ecology, gender and expression.”

Auction Date & Time

November 11, 2025, with live online bidding starting at 10 a.m. PST

Auction Preview

Weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Abell’s Los Angeles gallery, 2613 Yates Ave., 90040.

Registration & Bidding

Register in advance and explore auction items at www.abell.com. Buyers may place absentee bids with Abell directly, bid via telephone, or bid online at www.abell.com, LiveAuctioneers.com or Invaluable.com. For more information, call 310.858.3073 or visit www.abell.com.

About Rachel Rosenthal - Legendary Interdisciplinary Artist, Eco-Feminist, Animal Activist, Teacher

Born in Paris in 1926 to a Russian-Jewish émigré family, Rosenthal fled Nazi-occupied France during World War II and later settled in the United States. Trained in ballet and the visual arts, she studied under Hans Hofmann and Meyer Schapiro in New York, and absorbed avant-garde theater influences in Paris through Jean-Louis Barrault and Roger Blin. Her early friendships with Merce Cunningham, John Cage, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg placed her at the heart of the postwar avant-garde.

After relocating to Los Angeles in 1955, Rosenthal founded Instant Theater—an experimental performance space that helped launch the city’s performance-art movement. Her pioneering productions blended movement, sound, improvisation and visual design. By the 1970s, she had emerged as a leading voice in Los Angeles feminist art, collaborating with Miriam Schapiro, Barbara T. Smith and Betye Saar through CalArts’ Feminist Art Workshop, Womanspace and the Woman’s Building.

In later years, her Rachel Rosenthal Company staged influential works such as “Rachel’s Brain,” “Pangean Dreams” and “Zone,” exploring ecology, animal rights and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Throughout her distinguished career, Rosenthal received numerous honors, including a J. Paul Getty Fellowship, the College Art Association Award for Distinguished Body of Work and recognition as a Cultural Treasure of Los Angeles.

Visuals

For high-resolution images of featured items, please click here.