First Open

Artist Simon Hantaï was known for his folded canvas paintings. Though Hantaï was briefly associated with the Surrealists, he eventually broke from the group to pursue gestural abstraction. This pursuit fueled years of experimentation, eventually leading to a breakthrough with his Pliage paintings. These works were created by folding the canvas to reveal it as a material rather than a flat plane. One painting from Hantaï’s Meun series will be presented in the upcoming First Open auction, offered by Christie’s. Created between 1967 and 1968, this series was pivotal in the development of the artist’s career.

Christie’s presents over 180 pieces of post-war and contemporary art in the event. A sculpture by Alexander Calder, titled Blue, Orange, and Red, is one of the featured lots. Calder was best known for his three-dimensional wire sculptures that changed the course of modern art. He also often experimented with the concepts of color, space, and composition. The available piece depicts abstract comet-like shapes, colored with a bright palette. De Wain Valentine’s Circle sculpture and a photograph from German artist Vera Lutter will also be available. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Christie’s.