Contemporary Art: Spring Auctions 2019 - A Visit @ Christie`s, New York

(Drivebycuriosity) - It´s auction season again. Next week the global auction houses will perform  their huge spring auctions in New York City. My wife and I went to Christie`s, one of the global mega art traders  (christies). The place looks like a huge museum and could easily compete with New York´s Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) and other prestigious art institutions - and admission is free! As usual they displayed the art work to be auctioned on several floors (galleries @ 20 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan).

I spotted there many of my favorites, but also discovered some new & fascinating artists. This post focuses on Post War & Contemporary Art. I display just my favorites from the shows here, a very subjective selection as usual (No guarantee for mentioned price estimates). I believe the group on the top of this post cheers Gerhard Richter and I am sure behind them we can see Andy Warhol`s “Double Elvis (Ferus Type)” (1963, silkscreen ink and silver paint on linen, Estimate $50,000,000 - 70,000,000). The next image shows another Warhol: “Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn)” (1967, screen print in colors on paper, in ten parts, Estimate $ 2,000,000 - 3,000,000).

Above you can see Jeff Koons` “Rabbit” (1986, stainless steel, Estimate $50,000,000 - 70,000,000 ) got a room for himself, strongly illuminated, it looks like an ancient temple to worship the rabbit god. If I would buy this object, I would purchase the room too, the rabbit has needs his temple.



The Magic Of Brush Strokes

I am a huge fan of the Romanian artist Adrian Ghenie who belongs to the rising stars of contemporary art. Above you can see his “Babe in the Woods” (2005, oil and acrylic on canvas, Estimate $3000,000 - 5,000,000) - the magic of brush strokes.

I am also an admirer of Mark Tansey “Repairing the Wheel” (1996, oil on canvas, Estimate $3,000,000,000 - 5,000,000)

I am always happy when I can spot a work by Gerhard Richter, above his  "Monstein" (1981, oil on canvas, Estimate $5,000,000 - 7,000,000). Monstein is a village in Switzerland,  located at 1620 m altitude.

There were more Warhol`s of course, above “Jackie (Gold)” (1964, spray enamel and silkscreen ink on canvas Estimate $600,000 - 800,000)  & “Little Electric Chair” (1964-65, acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen Estimate $6,000,000 - 8,000,000) 

Francis Bacon belongs to the superstars of today´s art  business. Above his “Man at Washbasin” (1954, oil on canvas, $5,000,000,000 - 7,000,000,000 )

Above Bacon`s violent lover Lucien Freud with an untypical work:  “Painter`s Garden” (2003, oil on canvas, Estimate $4000,000,000 - 6,000,000,000 )

I like David Salle`s work, including  “The Marionette Theatre” (1987, acrylic and oil on three joined canvases, Estimate $200,000 - 300,000)  

The always funny George Condo also belong to the auctions tandards above his “The Drifters” (2009, acrylic, charcoal and pastel on linen, Estimate $1,800,000 - 2,500,000)

No auction without Tom Wesselmann. Above his “Great American Nude ‘26” (1962, oil, canvas collage, metallic foil paper and printed paper collage on board, Estimate $1,500,000 - 2,000,000)  followed by  “Final Study for Kate Nude” (1977, oil on canvas, Estimate $80,000 - 120,000)  and “Blue Nude Claire No.1” (oil on canvas, Estimate $400,000 - 600,000).

Above Elizabeth Peyton`s  “John Lennon 1965 (Hotel)” (1995, oil on canvas, Estimate $700,000 - 900,000) - wasn`t he cute?

Above Wayne Thiebaud`s “Eating Figures (Quick Snack)” (1963, oil on canvas, Estimate $4,000,000 - 6,000,000)

Above some bargains: Sarah Hughes` “You are me and you are me too”  (2012, oil, acrylic and enamel on canvas, Estimate $15,000 - 20,000) plus Mickalene Thomas` “Just a whisper Away” (2008, acrylic, enamel and rhinestones on panel,  Estimate 70,000 - 100,000) .

Pat Steir`s “Priscilla Waterfall” (1991, oil on canvas, Estimate $500,000 - 700,000)  & the Japanese artist Tomoo Gokita`s “Reign of Blows” (2007, acrylic gouache on canvas, Estimate $80,000 - 120,000 )

Brian Calvin´s “Slow Burn” (2001, acrylic on canvas, Estimate $30,000 - 50,000) looks sharp, not only because of the razor blade necklace. Don´t mess with her.




Do Not Touch 

Domenico Gnoli`s “Purple Bust” (1969, acrylic and sand on canvas. Estimate $7,000,000 - 10,000,000) looks almost real. Please do not touch.

To be continued