Morisa Rosenberg
Head of Department
Ended
Surrealist Treasures
The Urban S. Hirsch III Collection
9 – 17 January 2025
Urban S. Hirsch III (1941-2024) was a businessman, fervent art collector, motorcycle enthusiast, and incredibly generous person. He built an astounding collection of Surrealist Art and Old Master prints, inspired by his chosen profession in the printing ink industry. In 1960, Urban started his career at Bowers Printing Ink Co. in Chicago, where he developed his passion for ink on paper, as a business, as well as an art form. Urban's in-depth knowledge of the various inks used in lithographic printing fueled his curiosity about the complexities of the printmaking process and spurred his desire to build a collection of graphic works. While at Bowers, Urban witnessed the company's acquisition of 173 works of art on paper which were ultimately donated to Northern Illinois University by Bowers' then CEO, and Urban's stepfather, Mel Pfaelzer. A passion for Fine Art was a shared family interest as Urban's mother, Dicky Pfaelzer, worked at various art galleries throughout her life: Devorah Sherman Gallery, van Straaten Gallery and The Elaine Horwitch Gallery. In 1968, Urban and his wife, Judy, moved to Los Angeles, and within a few years, they welcomed the birth of their two sons, Paul and Carl. Urban would go on to start his own custom ink manufacturing company and was later elected President of the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM). Urban's passion for collecting extraordinary objects extended beyond Fine Art. Urban loved pre-1916 motorcycles and custom Harleys, being a member of the Hamsters' Motorcycle Club and consistently attending the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. He was constantly renovating his beautiful home in Benedict Canyon, where he loved hosting extended family gatherings. Urban enjoyed life to the fullest and he helped others around him to do the same.
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Auction highlights
Lot gallery
124 lots available
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Victoria Zaks
Specialist, Head of Sale
Catherine Lay
Cataloguer
Megan Gallagher
Cataloguer
