South Seas, a resort located on Captiva Island in Florida, has purchased all twenty-two acres of the Robert Rauschenberg property located on the same island, according to reports. South Seas, which reportedly spent $45 million on the deal, announced the sale on March 31, inciting the dismay of many in the local community who wanted to see the artist’s property historically preserved. Rauschenberg, a prolific painter, is one of the most important American artists of the twentieth century.
“This sale offered us a rare and compelling opportunity to acquire prime beachfront directly adjacent to our established resort, creating a seamless opportunity for integration and enhancements to the overall resort,” Greg Spencer, the president of South Seas, said in a statement. “We look forward to honoring the legacy of this amazing artist through future art-related programming and by incorporating several buildings from the property into our resort.”
The beachside land spans Captiva’s Laika Lane and Captiva Drive, according to the Fort Myers News-Press. Last year, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, which for years made the Captiva property its home, announced that it would put the land up for sale…