Name: ARTMAJEUR
Brand: ARTMAJEUR
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Jack Nicholson - From Kennedy center ( an honoree that year ) December 2, 2001 © copyright John Mathew Smith 2001, via Wikipedia.

Who is Jack Nicholson?

John Joseph Nicholson, born on April 22, 1937, is a retired American actor and filmmaker who has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. His remarkable career spanning five decades garnered him a multitude of accolades, including an impressive trio of Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, a Grammy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. His contributions were further recognized with the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award in 1994 and the esteemed Kennedy Center Honor in 2001. Across many of his cinematic endeavors, Nicholson often portrayed characters challenging societal norms and conventions.

Nicholson's Academy Award triumphs include the titles of Best Actor for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975) and "As Good as It Gets" (1997), along with a Best Supporting Actor win for "Terms of Endearment" (1983). He secured Oscar nominations for his roles in "Easy Rider" (1969), "Five Easy Pieces" (1970), "The Last Detail" (1974), "Chinatown" (1974), "Reds" (1981), "Prizzi's Honor" (1986), "Ironweed" (1987), "A Few Good Men" (1992), and "About Schmidt" (2002). Nicholson's cinematic legacy is further defined by his notable appearances in movies like "Carnal Knowledge" (1971), "The Shining" (1980), "Heartburn" (1986), "Broadcast News" (1987), "Batman" (1989), "Hoffa" (1992), "Mars Attacks!" (1996), "Something's Gotta Give" (2003), "The Departed" (2006), and "The Bucket List" (2007).

In addition to his acting prowess, Nicholson stepped into the director's chair for three films: "Drive, He Said" (1971), "Goin' South" (1978), and "The Two Jakes" (1990). His accomplishments stand out even more when considering that he is one of only three male actors to secure three Academy Awards and one of merely two actors nominated for an Academy Award across films produced in each decade spanning from the 1960s to the 2000s, a distinction he shares with Michael Caine. Remarkably, Nicholson's remarkable journey in cinema has led to an impressive 12 Academy Award nominations, establishing him as the most nominated male actor in the history of the Academy.

A $150 Million Art Collection

Jack Nicholson is renowned for his portrayal of some of Hollywood's most iconic characters. His roles in movies like "Easy Rider," "The Shining," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Chinatown," "Terms of Endearment," and "As Good As It Gets" solidified his dominance across several decades, spanning the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s.

Despite his illustrious career, Jack Nicholson's name has been absent from film credits since 2010. At 82 years old, he has quashed speculations of retirement attributed to memory issues, asserting that his reduced motivation to "be out there" is the primary factor. Nonetheless, his vigor remains evident in two significant domains: his extensive real estate holdings and his unparalleled art collection. On the real estate front, Nicholson possesses properties worth $100 million across the globe, while his art collection boasts a staggering value of $150 million.

Nicholson has established himself as a prominent art collector, having begun his journey in the 1960s. His collection proudly features works by artistic luminaries such as Picasso, Matisse, Rodin, Botero, Bouguereau, Modigliani, Magritte, and Warhol. His art assemblage centers around 20th-century and contemporary creations, with artist Ed Ruscha describing it as "one of the best collections out here" in 1995.

The estimated value of Jack's art collection conservatively stands at $100 million, although a more recent assessment places it at $150 million. Naturally, the value is subject to fluctuations influenced by the dynamic nature of the art market. It's conceivable that a billionaire figure like a Saudi sheikh might be inclined to part with $100 million or more to acquire a Picasso or Matisse piece that has adorned Nicholson's walls for half a century.

Nicholson as Wilbur Force in The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), via Wikipedia.

About Jack Vettriano

Jack Nicholson purchased a trio of artworks by the British painter Jack Vettriano, which encompassed notable pieces like "Dancer for Money" and "Night Geometry." These acquisitions took place during the 1996 showcase titled "Halfway to Paradise." Expressing a strong admiration for Jack Nicholson's contributions, Vettriano was genuinely delighted that the esteemed actor had chosen to secure three paintings from the exhibition held in Hong Kong.

The artists collected

Pablo Picasso: Pablo Ruiz Picasso, born on October 25, 1881, and passing away on April 8, 1973, was a prominent Spanish artist renowned for his contributions as both a painter and sculptor. Throughout his prolific career, he produced an astonishing collection of over 20,000 artworks. He lived to the age of 91 before his passing. Regarded as one of the preeminent artists of the 20th century, Picasso holds a revered place in artistic history. He played a pivotal role in co-founding the artistic movement known as cubism. This innovative style involves deconstructing objects into fragments and then reconstructing them in abstract and geometric forms, which has left an indelible mark on the world of art.

Henri Matisse: Henri Émile Benoît Matisse, born on December 31, 1869, and passing away on November 3, 1954, was a distinguished French artist celebrated for his ingenious utilization of color and his fluid, innovative approach to drawing. While he engaged in activities as a draftsman, printmaker, and sculptor, his primary claim to fame remains centered on his prowess as a painter. Matisse is widely acknowledged alongside Pablo Picasso as a key figure who significantly shaped the groundbreaking advancements within the visual arts during the initial decades of the 20th century. His contributions played a pivotal role in the progression of painting and sculpture. The vivid and intense use of colors in his works, particularly those painted between 1900 and 1905, earned him a place of distinction as one of the "Fauves," a group referred to as the "wild beasts" in French.

Fernando Botero: Fernando Botero Angulo, born on April 19, 1932, is an accomplished Colombian artist and sculptor, originally hailing from Medellín. His distinctive artistic approach, often referred to as "Boterismo," is characterized by the portrayal of individuals and figures in a grandiose, exaggerated manner. These larger-than-life depictions possess the ability to convey either political critique or a sense of humor, depending on the specific artwork. He stands as the most widely recognized and frequently cited living artist of Latin American origin. His artistic creations can be encountered in prominent locations worldwide, including Park Avenue in New York City and the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

William-Adolphe Bouguereau: William-Adolphe Bouguereau, whose name is pronounced in French as "wil-yam adolf buh-guh-ro," was a distinguished French painter renowned for his contributions to academic art. Within his genre of realistic painting, he skillfully embraced mythological themes, reimagining classical subjects in a contemporary light while placing a significant focus on the portrayal of the female human form. Throughout his lifetime, he enjoyed remarkable fame in both France and the United States. He garnered numerous official accolades and commanded high prices for his artistic creations. As a representative example of the salon painting tradition of his era, Bouguereau found himself at odds with the avant-garde Impressionist movement.

Rodin: François Auguste René Rodin, born on November 12, 1840, and passing away on November 17, 1917, was an artist from France who specialized in sculpting. Widely recognized as the initiator of contemporary sculpture, he received conventional artistic training and adopted an artisanal approach to his creations. Rodin possessed a distinctive skill in shaping intricate, turbulent, and deeply textured surfaces using clay as his medium. He gained fame for his notable sculptures like The Thinker, Monument to Balzac, The Kiss, The Burghers of Calais, and The Gates of Hell.

Amedeo Modigliani: Amedeo Clemente Modigliani, born on July 12, 1884, and passing away on January 24, 1920, was an Italian artist who primarily worked in France. He earned recognition as both a painter and sculptor. His distinctive style, characterized by a surreal elongation of faces, necks, and figures, is best known for its portrayal of portraits and nudes. Despite encountering initial disapproval during his lifetime, these works later garnered significant demand and acclaim. Modigliani's early years were spent in Italy, where he immersed himself in the study of ancient art and the Renaissance. In 1906, he relocated to Paris, where he interacted with prominent artists like Pablo Picasso and Constantin Brâncuși. By 1912, Modigliani was exhibiting his remarkably stylized sculptures alongside the Cubists of the Section d'Or group at the Salon d'Automne.

René Magritte: René François Ghislain Magritte, born on November 21, 1898, and passing away on August 15, 1967, was a Belgian artist associated with the surrealism movement. He gained recognition for his portrayals of commonplace items positioned within unusual and unforeseen settings. These compositions frequently sparked inquiries concerning the essence and limitations of reality and visual representation. His visual language left a profound impact on the development of pop art, minimalist art, and conceptual art.

Andy Warhol: Andy Warhol, known by his birth name Andrew Warhola Jr., was an American artist who played a significant role in the pop art movement. He was also involved in filmmaking as a director and producer. His creations delved into the intersection of artistic expression, advertising, and the burgeoning celebrity culture of the 1960s. His artistic endeavors spanned various mediums, including painting, silkscreening, photography, film, and sculpture. Notable pieces from his portfolio include the silkscreen artworks "Campbell's Soup Cans" (1962) and "Marilyn Diptych" (1962), experimental films like "Empire" (1964) and "Chelsea Girls" (1966), and multimedia experiences referred to as the "Exploding Plastic Inevitable" (1966–67). Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Warhol initially embarked on a successful career as a commercial illustrator. As his work began to be showcased in several galleries during the late 1950s, he gained recognition as an influential and provocative artist. His studio in New York, famously known as "The Factory," emerged as a renowned gathering spot that attracted a diverse crowd including intellectuals, drag performers, playwrights, Bohemian street denizens, Hollywood stars, and affluent patrons.

Jack Vettriano: Jack Vettriano, recognized with the Order of the British Empire (OBE), was born under the name Jack Hoggan on November 17, 1951. He hails from Scotland and is a painter of note. His painting titled "The Singing Butler," created in 1992, achieved remarkable popularity, emerging as a top-selling image within the confines of Britain.

Nicholson with Michelle Phillips at the 1971 Golden Globes, via Wikipedia.

Less is more

Nicholson possesses a collection of artworks whose overall value might imply a greater abundance than is the case; the thespian has stated that he prioritizes the excellence of the pieces he gathers over their quantity. To honor the art and offer a fitting residence for his acquisitions, the Hollywood celebrity opted to establish a private art exhibition space where he could present his assortment.