Art Market: New York`s Fall Auctions 2019 Redux

(Drivebycuriosity) - Last week´ s auctions in New York showed the status quo of the art market. My wife and I visited the 3 global leaders in the auctions business - Sotheby`s, Christie`s & Phillips - and spotted an amazing selection of art works.

This year had no blockbusters and delivered no spectacular records. But the galleries of the auction houses displayed an impressive spectrum of art any ambitious museum would be proud of.

I really loved seeing Mark Rothko’s "Blue Over Red" which achieved $26.5 million @ Sotheby`s.

Some lots impressed even in a slow market. Wayne Thiebaud's "Mickey Mouse" from The Collection of Ron and Diane Disney Miller sold for more than triple its high estimate in Christie´s, realizing a total of $1,815,000. It was fun to meet a very early love of mine.

Above another treat: Richard Prince’s "Park Avenue Nurse’ – from the artist’s very first nurse series - brought @  Sotheby`s $6.2 million.

Gerhard Richter maybe the most important living artist. At least he is my my top-favorite.  Sotheby`s showed his psychedelic "Aladdin" & Christie`s displayed his  "Vogelfluglinie".

I am also a fan of Mark Tansey.  Christie`s  had his cinematic "Myth of Depth II".

The always funny George Condo seems to be part of every auction. "The Picture Gallery", spotted @ Phillips, is my favorite for this fall.



Ancient Scientist

Jean Michael Basquiat knew how to entertain and his also was a master of pop art. The images above proof this: "Ancient Scientist" & "Portrait of Jon". Both are part of Sotheby`s Private Sales.


Rising Star

Loie Hollowell belongs the rising stars in the world of art. The fall seasons confirmed the trend:

"Hung (Down)" @ Sotheby`s  Estimate 60,000 — 80,000, sold for $256,250!
followed by "Giving Head"  @ Phillips Estimate $40,000 - 60,000?Sold for $106,250
 @ Christie`s  "Gemini"  Estimate $70,000 - $100,000. Price Realized: USD 225,000

But there were more climbers. Julie Curtiss` "Party Down" sold @ Phillips Sold for $ 400,000 Estimate was $30,000 - $50,000!

Eric Fischl also belongs to the entertainers. At Christie`s I saw his "Far Rockaway". I used to swim there, didn`t meet them.

I saw Marlene Dumas`mysterious "Blue Movie" @ Sotheby`s.

What is happening in David Wojnarowicz`s  "Desert Journal"? seen @ Sotheby`s

Above 2 more fine paintings: Dana Schutz`s  "Shooting on the Air "(Christie`s) &  Jennifer Bartlett`s " Locust`s Repetitions of a Young Captain"  (Sotheby`s).

2 more discoveries: Mernet Larsen`s  "Café" (Phillips) & Michael Kagan`s  "I will be here long after you’re gone" (Sotheby`s).



Strange Scenes

Genieve Figgis`s  "Sisters" (Sotheby`s) & Cy Gavin Marsden´s  "Cemetery at Tucker`s Point" Sotheby`s

Another strange scene: Rafael Coronel`s  "Peregrinos IV" (Sotheby`s)

Above Wojciech Fangor´s mesmerizing "M 56" seen @ Christie`s  & Kazuo Shiraga`s   "Untitled" @ Sotheby`s Estimate   1,800,000 — 2,500,000 Lot Sold   4,933,900.




Oldies But Goodies

The auctions for impressionist and modern art also had some fine works. Above some of my favorites: Ivan Kliun`s  "Spherical Supremtism" (Sotheby´s) followed by Georgia O`Keefe`s "Anthurium" (Sotheby´s); Camille Bombois` "Nu dans un intérieur" (Christie`s); Jean-Pierre Cassigneul`s "Nu à la blouse verte Estimate" & Tamara de Lempicka`s  "Les Deuy Amies V" (Sotheby´s).

Stay tuned