DriveByCuriosity: Contemporary Art: Fall Auctions 2019

Thursday, November 7, 2019

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

(Drivebycuriosity) - It´s auction season again. Next week the global auction houses are performing their huge fall 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. As usual they display the art work to be auctioned on several floors (galleries @ 20 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan) - and the admission is free!

Their catalogues have more than 300 items, a very impressive survey of contemporary art. I spotted many of my favorites, but also discovered some new & fascinating artists. I display here just my favorites from the the exhibitions of Post War & Contemporary Art, a very subjective selection as usual.

The ladies on top of this post admire David Hockney`s "Sur la Terrasse" (Estimate USD 25,000,000 - USD 45,000,000), one of this season`s highlights. Above this paragraph you can see a painting by another superstar: Gerhard Richter`s wonderful "Vogelfluglinie" (Estimate USD 18,000,000 - USD 25,000,000).

followed by another amazing Gerhard Richter work: "Kleine Treppe am Meer" (Estimate USD 3,800,000 - USD 5,000,000),

Above another favorite of mine: Mark Tansey with "Myth of Depth" (Estimate USD 3,000,000 - USD 5,000,000). I enjoy his always surrealist compositions.

and I spotted another Tansey: "End of History Victory Party" (Estimate USD 3,000,000 - USD 5,000,000).

Alex Katz also belongs to my favorite artists. Above you can see "Alex, Ada and Vincent" ( Estimate USD 2,000,000 - USD 3,000,000) followed by "Maxine" ( Estimate USD 1,000,000 - USD 1,500,000) & "Orange Hat 2" (Estimate USD 700,000 - USD 1,000,000).

Of course I enjoyed the always funny George Condo. Above his "Day of the Idol" (Estimate USD 3,500,000 - USD 5,500,000)

Francis Bacon`s "Study for Self-Portrait" is another highlight (Estimate USD 8,000,000 - USD 12,000,000).

I am always glad to see a painting by the experimental late German artist Sigmar Polke. Above "Propeller Frau" & "Gegen die zwei Supermächte—für eine rote Schweiz" (Estimate USD 3,000,000 - USD 5,000,000)

Above 2 painters who both like to provoke & to entertain: Eric Fischl`s "Far Rockaway" (Estimate USD 180,000 - USD 250,000) followed by Richard Prince´s "Untitled (de Kooning)" (Estimate USD 350,000 - USD 550,000) & "Nurse Barclay's Dilemma" (Estimate USD 4,500,000 - USD 6,500,000).

Above David Salle`s "Guitry Classic" (Estimate USD 220,000 - USD 280,000).

Takashi Murakami is also full of ideas, has his "Sakurako" proofs (dyptich-acrylic on canvas mounted on panel, estimated $500,000-700,000)

Yes, that´s Leonardo DiCaprio.: Elizabeth Peyton`s "Leonardo" (Estimate USD 350,000 - USD 550,000).

and another American idol: "Mickey Mouse" by Wayne Thiebaud (Estimate USD 400,000 - USD 600,000) followed by James Weeks` " Bay Excursion #2" (Estimate USD 30,000 - USD 50,000).

Loie Hollowell (b. 1983) belongs to the shooting stars in the world of art. Above here "Gemini" (Estimate USD 70,000 - USD 100,000). I already reported about her fascinating show @ Pace Gallery (driveby ).

Above Kim Whanki`s "05-IV-71 #200" (Universe) - oil on cotton. Breathtaking!

And I got stunned by Wojciech Fangor`s mesmerizing "M 56" (Estimate USD 250,000 - USD 350,000)

Above some nice abstracts: Dana Schutz´s "Shooting on the Air" (Estimate USD 600,000 - USD 800,000) followed by Mark Bradford`s "Promise Land" (mixed media collage on canvas $5,500.000-8,500.00) & Willem de Kooning`s "Untitled" (Estimate USD 3,500,000 - USD 5,500,000)