Cy Twombly painting could bring $60M at sale; proceeds to aid historic Los Angeles synagogue

A painting by Cy Twombly (sy TWAHM'-blee) is going on the auction block to help a Los Angeles synagogue construct a new building.

Sotheby's says "Untitled, 1968 (New York City)" could bring over $60 million when it's offered Nov. 11 in New York.

The work is owned by philanthropist Audrey Irmas. The proceeds will go to The Audrey Irmas Foundation for Social Justice, which supports causes including the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles.

The Byzantine-revival synagogue will receive $30 million from the sale for a new $60 million building next door. The Rem Koolhaas-designed building will be named The Audrey Irmas Pavilion.

Irmas bought the painting for $3.8 million at Sotheby's in 1990. It's part of Twombly's "Blackboard" series of white looping lines against a dark surface.