Less known than her relentless, compulsive and passionate (about art) ex-husband, the billionaire, Steve Wynn; Elaine has gradually increased her public appearances. The divorce from her Las Vegas casino mogul and art collector husband in 2010 has allowed Ms. Wynn some time to get acclimated to purchase pieces that SHE loves. Most notably, her 2013 purchase of Francis Bacon’s triptych for a record-breaking $142.4 million- a purchase that was made all the more impressive because Christie’s estimate was $85. Outbidding 5 other collectors must have felt great… and, she kept her identity as the buyer a secret for a while. When she “revealed” herself, she was quoted as saying, “For me it was something to celebrate quietly with myself rather than have it splashed about in the news,” (The New York Times).
Splitting her time between Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York, Ms. Wynn is taking her position on the board of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art very seriously. The museum’s campus needs to be reinvigorated and the 3 aging buildings need to be replaced. While some think that it’s a waste, the majority believe that the project will create a structure much more friendly and inviting for the public. Fund-raising is next on Ms. Wynn’s agenda, and if it goes anything like her past few years, we are confident there’ll be some major progress soon!
Elaine Wynn in front of the Los Angels County Museum of Art’s “Levitated Mass”. This 340-ton boulder-like sculpture was the first project that Ms. Wynn’s helped to fund.
Image courtesy of: The New York Times
In an auction that surpassed anything anyone imagined, Ms. Wynn annonymously purchased Francis Bacon’s “Three Studies of Lucian Freud”, (1969).
Image courtesy of: The New York Times
Ms. Wynn has a soft spot for this Jim Hodges silk flower curtain. This textile-based piece is, in her view, “ethereal”. Elaine bought the curtain in 2011.
Jim Hodges, “Every Touch”, 1997. Silk flowers, thread; 16″ x 14″
Image courtesy of: Quintessence Blog