American craftsman George Nakashima was imprisoned in an internment camp in Idaho, along with his wife and infant daughter, in 1942. It was there that the artist learned unconventional Japanese woodworking techniques from another prisoner. In 1943, after he and his family were able to leave the camp, Nakashima began working towards his newfound interest. His work showcased the natural beauty of wood. “There’s tranquility in the design, a natural flow that follows the characteristics of the wood,” BBC News has noted about Nakashima’s designs. A Greenrock table by George Nakashima is a key highlight of this upcoming Modern Design event, held by Rago. The table has an asymmetrical top with intricate grain detail.
Peter Voulkos’ abstract sculpture made from Shigaraki clay is also available in the listings. According to the lot essay, the artist produced only about 13 stacks with Shigaraki clay that he had shipped from Japan to the United States in 1995. The offered item was made at ceramicist Peter Callas’ New Jersey studio in 1998. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Rago.
In 1979, an unknown 21-year-old named Madonna Ciccone answered an ad seeking nude models to be photographed by Lee Friedlander. The model who would eventually be known by just her first name— Madonna— signed a release and was paid a small amount, then went back to the work of becoming a pop star. When the photographs resurfaced on the pages of Playboy magazine in 1985, Madonna was well on her way to becoming one of the biggest pop stars of all time. A print of one of the early photos from that shoot is up for bid in the Bloom Sale of Modern & Contemporary Art, offered by Dane Fine Art.
There are over 900 lots in the sale, representing works of photography, drawing, lithography, sculpture, and more. A few of the notable works in the sale include several original etchings signed by Pablo Picasso, hand-signed and numbered silkscreen works by Julian Opie, original balloon dog pieces produced by the Metropolitan Museum of Contemporary Art and signed by Jeff Koons, original paintings by Jeff Harvard, and more. There is also a signed book by KAWS, lithographs by STIK, Keith Haring, and Joan Miró, and an original box that contained prints by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Visit Bidsquare to browse the full catalog of this and other online auctions.
A self-taught artist, Yves Klein is known for his studies of colors. The artist created several monochromatic paintings using his trademark color, International Klein Blue. The Museum of Modern Art has pointed out that Klein saw monochrome painting as an “open window to freedom, as the possibility of being immersed in the immeasurable existence of color.” This 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale, presented by Phillips, will bring Yves Klein’s Relief Éponge bleu sans titre to auction. The piece, created between 1958 and 1961, belongs to his famous Relief Éponges series.
The live auction also showcases Roy Lichtenstein’s Nude. The available lot is one of his final works painted before his demise. “Nude encapsulates the artist’s reflections on both his career and modernism as a whole— on his own terms and through his own approach,” according to the lot essay. View more of these lots and register to bid online on Phillips.
Mark Rothko was an abstract artist famous for his color field artworks with rectangular sections. His paintings were known for their carefully curated shapes, color, depth, balance, scale, and composition. In 1949, the painter invented his signature composition involving vertically set rectangular shapes. These shapes were full of dark hues conveying the appearance of both empty space and unmatched brightness. The upcoming Sotheby’s auction of the Macklowe Collection presents an untitled oil painting by Mark Rothko. The available painting depicts three distinct color sections- maroon, black, and cobalt. The line and rich color conflux portray the influence of Henri Matisse on Rothko’s art.
Also showcased is Seestück [Seascape] by contemporary painter Gerhard Richter. The source of the available photorealistic artwork of clouds is from the artist’s personal image archive. Richter’s works bridge painting and photography. They are well-known for their visual effects and combination of Romanticism and abstraction. Alberto Giacometti’s bronze sculpture is another highlight. Stèle II depicts Giacometti’s brother, his preferred subject. The bronze features a heavy-cast bust on a tapered and long pillar, hinting at the Greco-Roman style that honored emperors and noblemen. The sale will also feature an artisanal porcelain sculpture from Jeff Koons’ Banality series, as well as works by Andy Warhol, Sigmar Polke, Willem de Kooning, John Chamberlain, Donald Judd, and Pablo Picasso. Interested collectors can explore the entire catalog and register to bid online on Sotheby’s.
In this upcoming auction, Gallery 63 will be offering a Patek Philippe Twenty-4 watch. The 2010 quartz watch features the Timeless White dial on an 8.25-inch band and an 18-karat white gold buckle. The 12 and six o’clock markers are seen with silver Roman numerals; the remaining hours are each marked with a single diamond. The watch comes with its original Patek Philippe box.
A Chanel shopper tote is also available. The 2011 shoulder bag is made of black grained calfskin leather. The bag’s outside has the signature Chanel CC as the turn lock with two front pockets and a deep rear pocket. The inside consists of a black fabric interior and one pocket. The shoulder bag measures 9.25 inches tall, 14 inches long, and 5.5 inches deep. Available with the bag is a removable zippered pouch, dust bag, Certificate of Authenticity, and its original Chanel box. Visit Bidsquare to view the entire catalog and to browse more online auctions.
The Post-War and Contemporary themed sale at Christie’s will showcase works from some of the giants in these categories. The auction starts with an idealized dream of childhood joy in Three Ice Cream Cones by Wayne Thiebaud. It is a 1964 oil painting of the classic Neapolitan trifecta of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream cones. The play of color and shadows make everyday treats a treat for the eyes. The sale features work by leading 20th-century masters such as Roy Lichtenstein, Helen Frankenthaler, Frank Stella, Alexander Calder, and Andy Warhol, alongside celebrated avant-garde artists of the 21st century ranging from Jeff Koons and Jack Whitten to Shara Hughes and Nicolas Party.
The sale has been divided into three sessions on the same day. The second session will highlight works from the collection of Thomas and Doris Ammann. Their newly established organization, which is dedicated to improving the lives of children worldwide, will benefit from this auction. This section will highlight post-war and contemporary artists like Brice Marden, Martin Kippenberger, and Mike Bidlo, as well as works of Pop Art and Neo-Expressionism from the 1980s. The third session will particularly feature The Half of the Painting #8 by Ilya Kabakov. He is a Russian-American artist born in 1933 in the Ukrainian SSR. As a part of Artists for Humanity, this lot was painted as a tribute to Ukraine and will benefit Doctors Without Borders. Find the listed items and more on Christie’s and register to place a bid.
Russian painter Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky was known for his striking portraits, genre art, and Impressionistic landscapes. He was an active member of several societies including the Peredvizhniki and the Arkhip Kuindzhi. A Young Sorceress, an oil on canvas by Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky, is a key highlight of the upcoming Shapiro Auctions event. In this painting, Bogdanov-Belsky used a rich color palette and a composition that emphasizes the reflection of light. Also available is Yuri Pimenov’s oil on canvas. The maker was known for his fascination with the world of theater. Pimenov worked extensively as a stage designer for theatrical productions, and this painting portrays his imagination and creativity in the drama space. The sale also offers Pimenov’s 1961 painting Kiosk, which belongs to the heyday of his career. Like many of his works devoted to modernity, this painting depicts a radiant city street. His brushstrokes are particularly reminiscent of the Impressionist style.
Bouquet de Printemps, an oil on board by Lê Phổ, highlights a combination of Impressionism, Surrealism, and Vietnamese styles. The Hanoi-born artist was known for his depictions of stylized flowers, blending French and Vietnamese artistic influences. Visit Bidsquare to view the complete catalog and other online auctions.
Crescent City Auction Gallery will host a two-session Important May Estates Auction in May. From fine art to furniture, collectibles and jewelry, Session I and Session II will offer over 900 items for sale. Kicking off Session I is a lady’s 14-karat rose gold dinner ring. The gold and diamond ring features a 6.21-carat emerald-cut morganite set atop an octagonal border of small round diamonds. A Paul McCobb wrought iron vanity is also available. Designed for Bryce Originals, the vanity holds folding mirrors over a white Vitrolite glass top with two small drawers.
Session II highlights a rare pair of imperial cloisonné and enamel lingzhi fungus jardinières. The underside has a raised Qianlong mark. Abstract, circa 2002, by George Bauer Dunbar, from his Surge Series, is also on offer. The framed artwork features a moon gold leaf on black clay with Die-Keen and rags. Several other lots are available as well. To view the full catalog, place a bid, and explore other online auctions, visit Bidsquare.
Bidhaus’ upcoming Mother’s Day auction of fine jewelry, handbags, and couture offers a curated selection of gifts and collectible luxury items. Among the top lots is a brilliant-cut diamond engagement ring that weighs 12.19 carats. The GIA-certified center stone boasts I color and SI2 clarity. Other key diamond jewelry pieces include a 48-carat necklace by David Webb. Three rows of diamonds comprise the necklace, including one row of alternating brilliant and baguette-cuts. Further examples come from the design tables of Cartier, Cacciari Salvati, Boucheron, Hammerman Brothers, and Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co.
Forming a robust section of this auction are designer handbags and accessories. These include an electric blue Birkin bag by Hermès. The idea for the Birkin bag was famously conceived in the skies during a chance encounter between Jane Birkin and Hermès’ Jean-Louis Dumas in 1984. Since its creation, the standard Birkin bag has branched out to include (at times) cargo-style pockets, canvas elements, and experimental shadows. There is also a dedicated line featuring rich jewel tones. The available Birkin bag in Blue Frida comes with its original and unused box, storage bag, and care instructions. For items sold in this Mother’s Day sale, the auction house will offer free shipping in the continental United States. To explore the complete catalog of this and other online auctions, visit Bidsquare.
A feather is light and signifies life, whereas a bone is heavy and signifies death. Feather with Bird’s Bone (circa 1942) is a painting by Georgia O’Keeffe available in this Modern Day Auction at Sotheby’s. As a little girl, Georgia O’Keeffe collected wildflowers and fruits to paint. O’Keeffe was born in 1887 in Wisconsin but her interest in art soon took her to Chicago and New York. There, she was inspired by the composition and color of Japanese art. Under the guidance of Arthur Wesley Dow, O’Keeffe focused on abstract representations of light, shape, and color. Her works differed from those of Cubist painters and defied easy classification. In O’Keeffe’s paintings, the lines flow in the shapes and rhythms of nature.
The Modern Day sale draws together paintings, drawings, and sculptures shaped by movements, counter-movements, cross-currents, and revolutionized art. For Alexander Calder, even the smallest object held power and intention, and his sculptures are living examples. The available The Red Dozen (1964) by Alexander Calder is a sheet metal, wire, and paint sculpture. It has red butterfly-like wings that branch out from thin metal stems, allowing the wings to float and move. Collectors will find major works by Guston, Motherwell, de Kooning, Davis, Botero, Matta, and Tamayo alongside highlights by Chagall, Miró, Picasso, and forerunners of the modern movement, Rodin, Degas, Renoir, and Morisot. Find the listed items and more on Sotheby’s and register to place a bid.
