Madonna selling Fernand Leger painting to fund girls’ education

Pop star Madonna is selling a painting from her private collection to benefit education initiatives for girls. “Trois Femmes à la Table Rouge” (Three Women at the Red Table) by Fernand Léger is worth an estimated $5 million to $7 million and will be sold by Sotheby’s, the singer announced Wednesday on her official website.

The painting, which dates from 1921, is an abstract work created in Léger’s signature pseudo-Cubist style. The work is scheduled to be sold on May 7 as part of a larger Sotheby’s auction in New York.

Madonna has been an avid collector of art for many years, with a special affinity for the works of Frida Kahlo.

ART: Can you guess the high price?

The pop star said in a statement that she will “donate all the proceeds [from the Léger sale] to support girls’ educational projects in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries where female education is rare or nonexistent.”

She said: “I want to trade something valuable for something invaluable -- Educating Girls!”

The sale will benefit Madonna’s Ray of Light Foundation, a philanthropic body that funds initiatives to help poor children around the world.

“Trois Femmes” will go on view in Hong Kong and London this month before returning to New York in May.

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