Art Market: New York`s Fall Auctions 2021 Redux - An Eclectic & Subjective Glance

(Drivebycuriosity) - In the recent days New York`s huge autumn art auctions happened, showing the state of the art market. According to the Wall Street Journal Sotheby`s, Christie`s & Phillips - the three world market leaders - sold together art work for $2.3 billion - a new record for them and for the global art market. 

I am not surprised. As I wrote before, the global art market follows the US stock market which climbed to a new record high as well ( driveby). Many investors are pouring their money into risky assets - including pricey art works - hoping on further rising prices (below a chart of the S&P 500, which represents the US stock market). It is not a coincidence that hedge fund managers and other finance people belonged to the top bidders.

                  

 

 ( wsj.com     macrotrends )

 

 

I was overwhelmed by quantity & quality of the exhibited art works which could easily compete with a major art museum. I can show here just some tidbits - a very subjective and eclectic selection.

 

 

Star of the auctions was a Rothko which Sotheby`s auctioned for $82.4 million. The painting came from the hyped Macklowe collection. A Manhattan couple in  divorce needed to auction their amassed art works to find out its market value. Good for the art world and for humble art lovers like me who could see these magical painting from close.

 

Cy Twombly`s wall filling doodles ("Untitled", 1961)  got a lot attention as well.

 

Joan Mitchell`s "Untitled" ( 1992) is a real eye catcher (seen @ Phillips).

Luc Tuymans` "Wallpaper" (2014) belonged to Phillips`highlights as well.

 

Helen Frankenthaler`s "Dream Decision" was another auction marvel (1976).

 

Eric Fischl`s “Best Western” (oil on canvas, 1983) crowns any salon.

 

 

This visitor is inspecting Jeff Koon`s "Gazing Ball (Titian Mars, Venus, and Cupid)".

                              

 

Cecily Brown belongs to the rising stars on the firmament of the art market. I enjoyed both "Untitled" works (2007 & 1997 ) @ Phillips and "Spree" (1999) @ Sotheby`s. Are these abstract paintings or do they show an orgy? You never can be sure with Brown.

 

Gerhard Richter is my favorite painter. He used to paint - in a photo-realist way - from a photo and then  rubbed a wet towel over it to create a blurring effect. Above you can see his "Sammler mit Hund/Collector with dog" (oil on canvas, 1966) and "Weiß (White)" (oil on canvas, 1988).

I am a fan of Sigmar Polke and Mark Tansey as well. Above Polke`s Rasterbild mit Palmen" (1966 ) and Tansey`s  "Garden" (2006).

 

 

Isn`t she wonderful: Javier Marín`s “Mujer Piedra II” clay from Zacatecas and Oaxaca with clay slip on metal artist's base, height: 41 in104 cm, 1998)

 

 

                  Blissful Discoveries

 

 

 

 

There were a lot of blissful discoveries. I was enchanted by Flora Yukhnovich`s wall filling "It’s Better Down Where It’s Wetter" (oil on canvas, 2018). This work alone was worth the visiting Sotheby´s. 

             

                          

There were more gems: Karin Mamma Andersson`s "Med läsning öd ej iden borrt, Vårt kön så föga det behöver, Och skall du läsa, gör det kort, At såsen ej må fräsa öfver / Readers" (2002); Lukas Duwenhögger`s elegant  "Rezalet (Impertinence) (1998); Hernan Bas` "Night Flight or Midnight Migration, or My Merry Way"  2008) & Hilary Pecis`"Sculpture Court" (2017).

 

 

 

                                      

                     

Above follow Matthew Wong`s "Adam and Eve" (2016 ); Zsolt Bodoni`s "Turul's Sword" (acrylic and oil on canvas, 2009) & Jamian Juliano-Villani`s "Last Resort" (acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 2014).

 

                                            

                               

Tomás Sánchez invited to meditate wit his  “Contemplador del contemplador” (acrylic on canvas, 1996) & “Encuentro con el meditador de la laguna” (acrylic on canvas, 1992).

                         

 The auctioned also some avant-garde:  "Face Your Fears" by RISK (found metal objects,2019) & Ugo Rondinone`s “If There Were Anywhere But Desert, Saturday” (painted fiberglass with wig, clothing and glitter, 2002).

 

Sotheby`s also showed some works, including Remedios Varo`s "Les Feuilles mortes (Les heures mortes, El hilo)" (oil on board , 1956).

  

There were some awesome some classics as. Above the wonderful impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. His lovely "Jeune fille à la corbeille de fleurs" sold @ Sotheby´s for $12,9 million. The late Renaissance painting by Artimesia Gentileschi`s "Portrait of a seated Lady", was earmarked for Sotheby`s Master Paintings Auction, New York January 27 2022.

 

 

 

I am grateful that even a humble blogger and art lover like me could enjoy this masterpieces without any admission fee and I could shoot as many photos I wanted. Thanks to Christie`s, Phillips & Sotheby´s.

 

Stay tuned