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

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - It´s auction season again. This week the global auction houses are performing their huge fall auctions in New York City. My wife and I went to Sotheby´s on New York`s Upper East Side, one of the huge global auction houses (sothebys).

They have exhibitions on 7 floors of the upcoming auctions, including  private sales, impressionists & modern art, postwar & contemporary art. These galleries can easily compete with the collections of big museums like New York´s MoMa - and the entry is free! We focused on the exhibitions for the day & evening auctions of Post War & Contemporary Art (with more than 500 lots). I spotted there many of my favorites, but also discovered some new & fascinating artists. I display here just my favorites from the shows, a very subjective selection as usual.

I really love Loie Hollowell`s "Hung (Down)" Estimate $60,000 — $80,000?. She is one of the rising stars in the world of art. Will she beat the estimate?

Mark Rothko`s paintings are always something to meditate on. Sotheby`s offers his "Blue over Red" for estimated  $25,000,000 — $35,000,000. What will the lucky buyer pay?.

The funny pop-art pieces by Jean Michael Basquiat are really eye cookies:  "Ancient Scientist#"  & 2 Portrait of Jon". Both are part of the private Sales

I got mesmerized by Marc Quinn Melville`s "Island Badlands".  Estimate $80,000 — $120,000

I also got spellbound by Damien Hirst`s "Beautiful Religious Fanaticism Where`s The Love Painting"  (household gloss on canvas) part of private sale

 

Gerhard Richter`s psychedelic  "Aladdin"  (Estimate $100,000 — $150,000)  &
"Abstraktes Bild". Estimate $3,500,000 — $5,000,000 are enthralling as well.

Jennifer Bartlett`s  "Locust`s Repetitions of a Young Captain" belongs to surprises of the season. Estimate just $50,000 — $70,000.

Marlene Dumas fascinated with "Thumbsuckere" (Estimate 1,200.000 — 1,800.000) & "Blue Movie". Estimate $500,000 — $700,000.

I think we will hear more from Michael Kagan (/michaelkagan). Above  his: "I will be here long after you’re gone". Estimate $40,000 — $60,000.

It seems Cy Gavin Marsden likes to provoke and to entertain: "Cemetery at Tucker`s Point". Estimate $20,000 — $30,000.

Genieve Figgis` "Sisters" are very special. Estimate $25,000 — $35,000

David Wojnarowicz wonderful "Desert Journal" speakes for it selves. Estimate $250,000 — 4350,000.

Richard Prince is a successful entertainer: "Untitled (With De Kooning)" (Estimate $120,000 — $180,000) followed by "Untitled (Cowboy)" (Estimate $1,500,000 — $2,000,000); "Untitled (Cowboy) part of Private Sale & "Park Avenue Nurse". Estimate $5,000,000 — $7,000,000.

Isn`t she lovely? Takashi Murakami`s "Miss KO2 Original (Project KO2)". Estimate $2,000,000 — $3,000,000.

The always funny George Condo seems to be part of every auction. Above his "Figure Composition 3", private sale & "Untitled (Choo Choo") (acrylic on canvas), private sale.

What`s going on here? Rafael Coronel`s "Peregrinos IV". Estimate $120,000 — $180,000.

Above more eye catcher. Lisa Yuskavage`s "Piggiback" Estimate $200,000 — $300,000 & Mel Ramos` "The Red Coat". Estimate  $150,000-$200,000.

Here she is: Russell Young`s "Brigitte Bardot" (acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas). Estimate $6,000-$8,000.

Beware! Karen Kilimnik`s "Mary calling up a storm". Estimate $80,000 — $120,000

Michaël Borremans` skillful  "Portrait (2)". Estimate $250,000 — $350,000

and finally some powerful abstracts: Kazuo Shiraga`s  "Untitled". Estimate $1,800,000 — $2,500,000 & Robert Motherwell`s  "Red, Cut by Black". Estimate $2,500,000 — $3,500,000.

To be continued

Stock Market: Are Perma-Bulls Really Stupid?

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - There are 2 kinds of people. The optimists and the skeptics or pessimists. Those optimists who invest into the stock market are called bulls, the pessimists who avoid stocks - or  bet against stocks by short-selling and buying put options - are called bears. 

For some reasons the skeptics are  considered as smart & sophisticate, the optimists are seen as naive. Some change their opinion from time to time, other stay all the time bullish or bearish. Members of the last group, the perma-bulls, are regarded as dumb. Are they?

The chart above shows how the S&P 500, the gauge for the US stock market, did since 1982. The green lines show the days when the stock market reached new all-time-highs. In December 1982 the index hovered at 150 points, today above 3,000 points. Unfortunately this index does not include dividend payments and does not show the total return.

 ( source)

The chart above displays the growth of a dollar invested in the S&P 500 at the end of August 1929. The blue line again shows just the stock market gains, without dividends (adjusted for inflation). The other lines display the total return, with dividends reinvested. Over time one dollar turned into 1,000 dollars. In the recent days the stock market climbed to new all-time-highs. 

Are perma-bulls really stupid?

Contemporary Art: Fall Auctions 2019 - A Visit @ Phillips, New York

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - It´s auction season again. Next week the global auction houses have their huge fall auctions in New York City. So my wife and I went to Phillips on 450 Park Avenue (phillips),  the No. 3 of the global auction empires, and visited the preauction exhibitions for their "20th Century and Contemporary Art Sales".

The company has the reputation to be more focused on contemporary works than her bigger competitors and to show more cutting edge art by up-and-coming artists. But they also had some big names. I display here some of my favorites from the exhibition - as usual a very subjective selection.

On top of this post you can see "Giving Head" by Loie Hollowell, a shooting star in the world of art  (oil on linen on panel). Estimate $40,000 - 60,000. Will she beat the estimate? Then follows Julie Curtiss` entertaining "Party Down" (acrylic and oil on canvas) Estimate $30,000 - 50,000.

Above the always funny George Condo with "The Picture Gallery" (oil on canvas) Estimate $700,000 - 1,000,000.


                                                            Juicy Fruit?

Above another statement to the "giving head" subject? Barbara Kruger`s "Desire Exists Where Pleasure is Absent"  (screenprint on vinyl) Estimate $250,000 - 350,000.

Will Cotton`s "Candy Stick Forest" (oil on linen) Estimate $50,000 - 70,000. Very sweet.

Richard Prince likes cowboys, nurses & jokes. Above his "Untitled (Cowboy)"  (inkjet and acrylic on canvas) Estimate $450,000 - 550,000.

I really love Mernet Larsen`s futuristic "Café" (acrylic and tracing paper on canvas) Estimate $40,000 - 60,000.

and I like Eberhard Havekost`s strange "Snow World (Spiel gegen Depressionen)" (oil on canvas) Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.

Julian Schnabel´s mysterious "Portrait of John Poynt" caught my eyes as well (oil and modeling paste on velvet) Estimate$200,000 - 300,000.

I am impressed by the craftsmanship of Michaël Borremans` "The Rendering" (oil on canvas) Estimate $350,000 - 450,000.

I don`t know why Kon Trubkovich called his painting "Ripe Fruit"( oil on canvas) Estimate $18,000 - 25,000.


To be continued

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)

Isn`t he funny`? Barry X Ball`s  "Envy"  (Estimate USD 200,000 - USD 300,000).

One of the filet pieces: Yves Klein`s  "Barbara (ANT 113" (Estimate USD 12,000,000 - USD 18,000,000).

To be continued