One of the most notable lots of Phillips Modern and Contemporary evening sale on May 14, a small Noah Davis painting Untitled (Boy with Glasses), belongs to Aryn Drake-Lee, the ex-wife of actor Jesse Williams.
The small 10-inch by 10-inch figurative portrait was included in an exhibition of work by Davis and his older brother, artist and filmmaker Kahlil Joseph called “Young Blood” at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle, WA in 2016. In installation photos of the exhibition, a photo credit line for Untitled (Boy with Glasses) reads “Collection of Aryn Drakelee-Williams and Jesse Williams“.
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Williams and Drake-Lee began collecting art in 2009, separated in 2017 and officially divorced in 2020. After the divorce, the painting went into the possession of Drake-Lee, a spokesperson for Williams told ARTnews.
Before Davis died at the age of 32 in 2015, the Seattle-born artist was known for his large figurative paintings of surreal, post-racial images, as well as founding The Underground Museum cultural space in Los Angeles.
In 2021, Williams spoke to ARTnews about his approach to collecting art from the African diaspora, what he learned from artist Cheryl R. Riley about how to be a patron, and his relationship with Davis.
“He was my brother—a very good friend of mine,” Williams told ARTnews. “Being able to live with his work and have it right by my doorway when everybody comes in and out—and gets washed over by it—is critical for me.”
When ARTnews emailed Phillips for confirmation about this consignment, a spokesperson said “I’m afraid we cannot comment on or confirm client identities.”
The auction house has given Untitled (Boy with Glasses) a price estimate of $150,000 to 200,000.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Williams as a co-consignor of the Davis painting. He does not currently own the painting, according to a spokesperson. ARTnews regrets the error.