Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Estate Sold to Florida Resort
7April 8, 2026
South Seas, a resort located on Captiva Island in Florida, has purchased all twenty-two acres of theRobert Rauschenbergproperty located on the same island, according to reports. South Seas, which reportedlyspent $45 millionon 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.
The primary feature of the property is the 8,000-square-foot studio, built by Rauschenberg himself in 1992. A cluster of ten buildings in total dot the property, including Rauschenberg’s “Beach House” and several other cottages.
“In recent years, the Foundation has dedicated significant resources to address increasingly challenging environmental conditions, including recurring storm damage, broader climate risks, and rising maintenance costs,” the Rauschenberg Foundation explained in a 2025 press release. “A sustainability assessment confirmed that safeguarding the property would require substantial additional investment and site modifications, without ensuring the property’s long-term resilience or reducing the likelihood of future costs.”
“It is difficult to comprehend the extent to which the foundation has failed the island community that Bob Rauschenberg loved and personally sought to protect from development,” the Captiva Civic Association said in a news release, per the Fort Myers News-Press. “It is a grievous betrayal by the Rauschenberg Foundation.”