Artworks by Ex-U.S. President Jimmy Carter Scheduled for Auction
When Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, he left behind a remarkable legacy as the 39th president of the United States. However, he also departed with something else: a collection of paintings. Currently, several of these artworks are destined for Christie’s New York, which is hosting a significant auction to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary this year.
Carter became interested in painting during the 1980s after his presidency, although he had also experimented with the art form while serving in the U.S. Navy. For the former president, art provided a “rare opportunity for privacy” amidst a largely public existence. “These moments of solitude are like being in another very pleasant world,” he stated in an interview with the Associated Press.
The Christie’s auction features a selection of these artworks, including depictions of the Georgia church where he was baptized, a still-life of pomegranates, and a landscape with a waterfall, each estimated to be sold for under $10,000. The Hornet’s Nest, from 2003, is anticipated to fetch between $8,000 and $12,000, illustrating a group of American soldiers aiming at British troops during the Revolutionary War.
In addition to his paintings, the auction also includes other personal items from the collections of Carter and his wife Rosalynn, curated in close partnership with their daughter, Amy Carter. Items range from campaign memorabilia and peanut-print scarves to a variety of ties and a handwritten birthday card from Jimmy to Rosalynn scribbled on White House stationary.
One of the standout items is a hand-crafted coffee table created by Carter himself, made from repurposed pine lumber originally from a horse trough. A portion of the auction proceeds will support the Carter Family Foundation, a non-profit committed to enhancing the Carter family’s legacy, particularly focusing on rural Georgia.
“[Amy] played a significant role in sharing stories and providing context, which added richness and detail to how these objects were experienced,” Julia Jones, associate specialist at Christie’s, told People last month. “Thanks to her, we can truly see this personal narrative that presents Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter as individuals, not merely as president and first lady.”
Amy mirrored this sentiment: “It is a joy to offer a glimpse into my parents’ world. I hope these items illustrate a more complete picture of them—their lives of service, their commitment to one another, and the joy and curiosity that kept them continuously learning and engaged throughout their lives.”
The Christie’s auction, titled the American Collector sale, also features various slices of Americana, celebrating the country’s rich cultural heritage and creative spirit. Traditional folk art, furniture, silver, rare books and manuscripts, as well as items from John D. Rockefeller III’s family collection are all highlighted, including a rare broadside edition of the Declaration of Independence printed in July 1776.
Other notable items in the auction consist of one of the 27 known copies of a version of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln; president James Madison’s portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart; the unique preparatory drawing for Grant Wood’s iconic American Gothic; and a printed version with handwritten revisions of the second draft of the Constitution, belonging to founding father Rufus King.
“America’s multifaceted history, spirit, and cultures can be discovered in the remarkable, storied objects that Christie’s New York is presenting to the public to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States,” says Marc Porter, chairman of Christie’s Americas. “This rich, diverse collection of objects…showcases the many intersecting histories and viewpoints of our nation.”
The American Collector sale will occur online and at New York’s Rockefeller Center from January 13–18, 2026. To find out more, visit the Christie’s website.