“contemporary” About 94
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Auction IndustryUnderappreciated Contemporary Artists in the Limelight at Stair’s December Auction
Robert Mapplethorpe, Patti Smith (With Neck Brace), 1978. Image courtesy of Stair. Stair’s early December art auction will put underappreciated contemporary artists on the global map this season. Stair is summing up 2021 with an amalgamation of works spanning the 20th and 21st centuries. The sale offers paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and photography from European and American artists working in modern and post-war modalities. The catalog includes a sculptural chair by Donald Judd, as well as photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe, Brassaï, and Andy Warhol. However, it’s the works from Pintupi artist Ronnie Tjampitjinpa, Iraqi artist Saadi Al Kaabi, Polish sculptor Igor Mitoraj, and American artist Jane Hammond that cannot be missed. Before the bidding begins, Auction Daily takes a look at these underappreciated contemporary artists who are showcasing their culture in the form of fine art. Igor Mitoraj, Luci di Nara, 1988. Image courtesy of Stair. Fragmented Faces by Igor Mitoraj Fragmented sculptures made Igor Mitoraj (1944 - 2014) one of Europe’s leading sculptors. Mitoraj’s works appear publicly in Washington, Los Angeles, Rome, and London to be observed and, for those who understand their value, admired. “Igor knew how to shape his sculptures drawing inspiration from ancient arts that he made contemporary, that he revived in a personal way,” says his friend and art dealer Stefano Contini. Mitoraj's sculptures are built like the classical Roman ones, but there is a twist. Their fragmented limbs and torsos, their bandaged faces speak volumes about how the artist viewed human bodies that go through degeneration and perhaps a lot of suffering. Luci di Nara, a bronze figure from 1988 by the Polish sculptor is available in Stair’s upcoming sale (estimate: USD 15,000 - $30,000). The British Museum in London installed a large-scale version of this sculpture in 2002. Saadi Al Kaabi, Untitled, 1998. Image courtesy of Stair. Untitled Paintings From Saadi Al Kaabi Like Mitoraj, human forms have an important place in Saadi Al Kaabi’s paintings. A graduate of Baghdad’s Institute of Fine Arts in 1960, Al Kaabi was also actively involved in the avant-garde modern art scene. His take on the human…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseWith a Stellar Panel of Collectors, Curators, Gallerists and Auction House Experts, Asia Week New York Zooms-in on Collecting Contemporary Asian Art, Thursday December 2 at 5:00 p.m.
New York: Continuing their series of lively and thought-provoking webinars, Asia Week New York is pleased to present Ahead of the Curve: Collecting Contemporary Asian Art, a webinar on Thursday, December 2 at 5:00 p.m. EST. To register click here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4ZviiQjzQruACvCh40kdNA As contemporary Asian artists find more inventive forms, styles and media to express their creativity, there are more opportunities to entice collectors–both novice and seasoned–to start or build upon a new or existing collection. Whether it’s a geometric-shaped Japanese bamboo basket, a complex Chinese ink drawing from a young emerging artist, a dramatic contemporary Japanese photograph or a contemporary Indian painting, there is one thing that unites them: the collector’s discerning eye. The Diane and Arthur Abbey Collection of Japanese Bamboo Baskets at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Courtesy Diane and Arthur Abbey) In partnership with Joan B Mirviss LTD, the panel discussion will spotlight four areas of contemporary Asian art: Chinese ink painting, bamboo art, South Asian art, and Asian photography. With expert insights from gallery owners, auction house experts and curators, alongside their passionate collecting clients, Ahead of the Curve will examine how this flourishing of contemporary Asian art has opened up exciting avenues of interest for savvy collectors. The panelists will discuss the challenges of being at the forefront of their fields: in introducing and promoting an unfamiliar medium, changing public perceptions, establishing new relationships with artists, and illuminating their quality and artistic merits to institutions and the general public. This essential discussion will be moderated by Joan Mirviss, who herself has pioneered the collecting of contemporary Japanese ceramics. The distinguished panel includes: Diane and Arthur Abbey have been collecting Japanese bamboo baskets for over 25 years. The culmination of their collecting resulted in a 2017-2018 groundbreaking eight-month exhibition of 90 of their pieces in the Japanese galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, attended by more than 400,000 visitors. Their outstanding collection, which has been gifted to The Met, helped fill a museum gap in the Met’s Japanese Collection. The couple worked closely with the entire Met’s Asian Department–particularly with Monika Bincsik, who served as…
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Auction IndustryArtcurial Celebrates Historic and Contemporary African Art in November Sale
An upcoming Artcurial auction celebrates exemplary works from contemporary African artists such as Leonce Raphael Agbodjélou (b. 1965). Agbodjélou emerged as a leading photographer of the Republic of Benin in the late 20th century. Born to Joseph Agbodjélou, a renowned photographer, the younger artist learned from his father. Agbodjélou portrays the experiences of a modern generation stuck between tradition and progress. He often uses a medium format film and a daylight studio to develop his work. Leonce Raphael Agbodjélou, Triptyque, Sans titre, (Série Demoiselles de Porto-Novo), 2012. Image from Artcurial. One of Agbodjélou’s recent projects, titled Série Demoiselles de Porto-Novo, highlights the everyday life of young women residing in Benin. While some of his photographs show people wearing traditional Yoruba robes, others depict a sense of modernity with the subjects wearing sunglasses. Artcurial will present an untitled triptych from this series. It carries a presale estimate of USD 9,248 to $13,872. In this split image, viewers can see a semi-nude woman wearing a traditional skirt and mask to represent the past and present of the Porto-Novo community. She stands in a dark room with blue walls and a tiled floor. Samuel Fosso, Fosso Fashion, 1999 - 2000. Image from Artcurial. Cameroonian-born Nigerian artist Samuel Fosso started his art career at an early age. In 1972, the Nigerian Civil War forced Fosso to leave his home for Bangui in the Central African Republic. At the age of 13, he began taking self-portraits. Fosso sent them to his mother, informing her of his well-being. This forged his path as an artist. Today, Samuel Fosso is among Central Africa’s leading contemporary photographers. His self-portraiture style explores African culture through different disguises and personas. With his portraits, Fosso also challenges and celebrates the Pan-African identity. Among the highlights of Artcurial’s contemporary African art auction is a self-portrait from Fosso, titled Fosso Fashion (estimate: $1,387 - $1,734). The inkjet print on matte paper shows Fosso wearing a suit and an overcoat. The auction also includes several other black-and-white photos from Fosso’s Fashion series. Samson Bakare, Everything blue and beautiful, 2021. Image from Artcurial Speaking about…
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Auction IndustryFrench Artists Dominate Freeman’s Upcoming Modern and Contemporary Art Sale
A broad selection of sculptures, paintings, and drawings will come to auction with Freeman’s on November 17th, 2021. The Modern and Contemporary Art sale particularly features the work of French artists, from François-Xavier Lalanne to Vũ Cao Đàm. David Weiss, Freeman’s Senior Vice President and Head of Sale for the Modern and Contemporary Art department, curated the auction. François-Xavier Lalanne, five Moutons de Pierre in front of the Philadelphia skyline. Image from Freeman’s. Leading the auction catalog are five Les Lalanne sheep from a Washington, D.C. collection. The French artist duo of François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne rose to fame in the 1960s. In a period dominated by abstraction and Pop Art, Les Lalanne turned their attention to realistic nature sculptures that leaned equally on Surrealism and whimsy. The couple co-created their sculptures but often displayed them under the joint moniker of Les Lalanne. François-Xavier’s hand is most visible in the animal sculptures. Claude primarily focused on flora and botanical themes. Les Lalanne received criticism when they started their artistic collaboration. Functional sculptures were still unknown to the art world at the time, and Les Lalanne intentionally blurred the boundary between art and design. They wished to make art more normal and less aspirational. “It is, after all, easier to have a sculpture in an apartment than to have a real sheep,” François-Xavier Lalanne famously said. “And, it’s even better if you can sit on it.” François-Xavier Lalanne, detail from Moutons de Pierre, 1988. Image from Freeman’s. François-Xavier Lalanne frequently returned to sheep motifs throughout his career. Initially a reference to Odysseus’ daring escape from a cyclops on the belly of a sheep, the animal sculptures struck a chord with collectors. Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé commissioned several early pieces from Les Lalanne, including a sculptural bar and garden sheep. A selection of Les Lalanne sheep will be available in Freeman’s Modern and Contemporary Art auction this November. François-Xavier Lalanne created the available epoxy stone and bronze Moutons de Pierre in 1979. He particularly designed these sheep for outdoor use. According to Freeman’s, they have guarded the entrance of the…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseLes Lalanne’s Flock of Sheep Invade Freeman’s Modern and Contemporary Art Auction
Freeman’s will bring 75 carefully curated sculptures, paintings, and mixed media artworks to auction this month. Contemporary art will appear alongside works from prolific artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Jules Pascin. Bidding will start at 11:00 AM EST on November 17th, 2021. Bidders can participate virtually on Bidsquare. François-Xavier Lalanne (French, 1927-2008) Two Moutons de Pierre The auction will highlight two Moutons de Pierre made in 1988 by François-Xavier Lalanne (estimate: USD 200,000 - $300,000). The French sculptor duo Claude Lalanne and François- Xavier Lalanne gained popularity in the 1960s after completing commissions for Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Their much-celebrated sheep sculptures are modeled after giant sheep belonging to the Cyclops Polyphemus in Homer’s Odyssey. According to the Greek myth, Odysseus and his comrades escape the giant Cyclops’ cave by clinging to the bellies of his giant sheep. Les Lalanne thought it to be funny and charming if these sheep invaded a living space. Chaïm Soutine (French/Russian, 1893-1943) Le Viaduc Rouge Près de Vence Freeman’s fall auction also features an oil painting by Chaïm Soutine (estimate: $100,000 - $150,000). The Russian-born Expressionist worked exclusively in Paris during his career. Soutine’s passion for color is evident in the oil painting available in this auction. Le Viaduc Rouge Près de Vence (1919) has a mix of vibrant colors. It is distorted yet well-composed. In recent years, one of Soutine’s portraits became a symbol of pro-democracy protests in Belarus. Harry Bertoia (American, 1915-1978) Untitled (Study for Fiery Circle) Another significant lot is an untitled Harry Bertoia sculpture (estimate: $50,000 - $70,000). Bertoia executed this brazed bronze and copper wire piece in 1960. While this sculpture looks like a tree, it also resembles a fiery circle. The Italian-American artist was famous for his Sonambient sculptures that utilize elements like wind and weather to produce sounds. His sculptures intentionally interact with viewers. Two tonal sound sculptures by Bertoia appear in the auction catalog. Both date back to 1978 and use mixed metal rods to create sound. Sketches and paintings from Henri Matisse, Jules Pascin, and Pablo Picasso are also available…
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Art FairsLA Art Show Returns With NFTs and Global Contemporary Art
After several delays and complications due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LA Art Show will return in the summer of 2021. The three-day event marks the fair’s 26th anniversary. The organizers aim to rekindle the art market in Los Angeles following a difficult year of lockdowns and cancellations. “Now more than ever, we need a physical art fair in Los Angeles to bring the creative community back together,” LA Art Show producer and director Kassandra Voyagis said in a press release. “2020 has been such a challenging year for everyone, and even though things won’t be how they were before, we can’t let 2021 go by without having an art fair in the city. Our community needs something to look forward to.” The LA Art Show in 2019. Image courtesy of the LA Art Show. About the LA Art Show 2021 Since its start in 1994, the LA Art Show has focused on supporting the local community and building a robust art market on the West Coast of the United States. This year, the fair will run from July 29th through August 1st, 2021 in the Los Angeles Convention Center’s West Hall. The 200,000 square-foot location will welcome more than 80 galleries from across the United States, South America, Europe, and Asia. As in years past, 15% of ticket sale proceeds will support the work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The LA Art Show will also be available on Artsy, where collectors can view and purchase the exhibited art online. Attendees can explore a preview on Artsy from July 26th through July 28th, followed by an extended online run from August 2nd through August 8th. Previously, the LA Art Show was scheduled for February of 2021 to coincide with Frieze LA. Frieze’s cancellation and the continued safety concern of hosting live events during the pandemic prompted the five-month delay. Safety remains a concern for the show’s organizers. Galleries will be further apart than usual, and all attendees must comply with CDC and Los Angeles County safety guidelines during the socially-distanced event. Félicie d'Estienne d'Orves, Cosmographies: Pleiades, Sirius, Sagittarius A*,…
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Auction IndustryContemporary Realism: 21st-Century Representational Art Comes to Auction With Sotheby’s
Contemporary Realism emerged in New York as a reaction to and rejection of Abstract Expressionism. It began in the 1960s and reached its height in the early 1970s. The movement advocates the natural and objective representation of life through figurative artworks. The contemporary representational art style borrows heavily from early 19th-century Realism, which aimed to portray the ‘real’ rather than the ‘ideal.’ This July, Sotheby’s will present a selection of 21st-century Contemporary Realism pieces. The event is held in collaboration with Art Renewal Center (ARC). Sotheby’s Contemporary Realism: Important 21st Century Works event will feature pieces by the winners and the finalists of the 15th International ARC Salon Competition. Bidding will start on July 16th and run through July 26th, 2021. Learn more about the key works of contemporary representational art before the auction begins. Vincent Figliola, Crossing II: Border Paintings, 2018. Image from Sotheby’s. Crossing II: Border Paintings, 2018 by Vincent Figliola Contemporary realist artist Vincent Figliola uses his art to portray the human struggle. At 85 years old, Figliola spends most of his days painting. He prefers working with oil, small brushes, and graphite, similar to the Renaissance artists. An award-winning former art director and creative advertising director, Vincent Figliola is a first-generation Italian-American. Born to immigrant parents, Vincent Figliola understood suffering at an early age. He later became known for exploring themes of immigration and other issues in his realism pieces. The Border Paintings are among his depictions of migrant families crossing dangerous national borders. The upcoming Contemporary Realism art auction will feature Vincent Figliola’s Crossing II (lot #20, estimate: USD 160,000 – $180,000), the winner of the ‘Best-Social Commentary Runner Up’ at the 15th International ARC Salon Competition. Rendered in black, blue, brown, green, and white, the painting portrays a group of migrant families crossing an arid desert landscape. Peter Adams, The Resurrection, 2018. Image from Sotheby’s. The Resurrection, 2018 by Peter Adams The Contemporary Realism art sale will also highlight The Resurrection, a painting from contemporary American artist Peter Adams (lot #15, estimate: $80,000 – $12,000). Created in 2018, the oil painting recalls the biblical…
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Auction ResultAuction Review: Phillips and Poly Auction’s Dual-Location Contemporary Art Sales
This June, Phillips and Poly Auction continued their collaborative efforts with two days of contemporary art auctions. Held on June 7th and 8th, 2021, the events took place in both Hong Kong and Beijing. The auction houses achieved two ‘white glove’ sales with a 100% sell-through rate and netted a total of HKD 702 million (USD 90.4 million). “The brand new format of these dual-location sales… confirm[s] the strength of Asian buyers in building global demand for the modern and contemporary art category,” said Jonathan Crockett, Phillips’ Asia Chairman, in a statement. “This season’s sales were one of our most diverse and we were pleased to achieve another season of impressive results with our offering of exceptional 20th and 21st century works of art.” Left: Phillips auctioneer Jonathan Crockett sells Yoshitomo Nara’s Missing in Action in the Hong Kong auction room. Right: Poly Auction’s Beijing auction room. Images from Phillips and Poly Auction. Phillips and Poly Auction first joined forces in November of 2020. Each company looked to expand its presence in foreign markets and increase brand visibility. Following the success of their inaugural joint sale in November, which brought in HKD 508 million (USD 66 million), the auction houses announced plans for a dual-location contemporary art event in the spring of 2021. Phillips auctioneers ran the sales from the company’s Hong Kong location, and collectors could also join through Poly Auction’s live feed in Beijing. More than 800 bidders from 45 countries participated, doubling the previous auction season’s rates. Yoshitomo Nara’s Missing in Action from 2000 was the leading lot. It sold for HKD 134.8 million (USD 15.9 million). This marks the artist’s second-highest price at auction. This collaboration also marked a step forward for cryptocurrency in the art market. In May, Phillips announced its plans to accept Bitcoin or Ether as payment for a non-digital work of art (Banksy’s Laugh Now Panel A, 2002). This decision set a precedent for major auction houses in Asia. Banksy’s signature spray paint piece sold for HKD 24.5 million (USD 3.2 million), though the buyer’s payment method has not yet been disclosed.…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseContemporary Art at Swann June 10
Elaine de Kooning, Joan Mitchell, Kara Walker & More Feature Feminist Art from the Collection of Harriet Lyon to be Offered John Salt, Riviera 2, oil on canvas, 1969. Estimate $30,000 to $50,000. New York—Swann Galleries’ sale of Contemporary Art on Thursday, June 10 will feature impressive works from blue-chip artists working across the different schools of the last several decades. The sale is led by Photorealist pioneer John Salt with the 1969 Riviera 2—a hyper-realistic oil-on-canvas work of a car interior, a common motif in his works ($30,000-50,000). During Salt’s time teaching at the Maryland Institute College of Art his style evolved into the photorealist manner seen in Riviera 2 through discovering the work of photographers such as Garry Winogrand and Lee Friedlander. Artists also practicing in photorealism include Vija Celmins with Comet, linoleum cut, 1992 ($12,00-18,000); Richard Estes with Qualicraft Shoes, color screenprint, 1974 ($3,000-5,000); and Howard Kanocitz with André Champagne, color screenprint, 1972, and Street Scene, color screenprint, 1972 ($1,000-1,500, offered together). Alice Neel, Portrait of Harriet Lyons, mixed media, 1974. Estimate $20,000 to $30,000. Feminist artworks from the collection of Harriet Lyons will be on offer. Lyons was a founding editor for the famed Ms. Magazine covering art and general assignments, and member of a feminist consciousness raising group which included members such as Pat Steir, Joan Snyder, Elke Solomon and Nancy Azara. Highlights from the collection include a color crayon, watercolor, gouache and pencil portrait of Lyons by Alice Neel ($20,000-30,000); Judy Chicago’s Red Flag, photolithograph, 1971 ($1,00-,1,500); Mary Beth Edelson’s Some Living American Women Artists / Last Supper, offset lithograph, 1972 ($1,000-1,500); as well as works by Pat Steir, Miriam Schapiro and Linda Stein. Following the recent success of Elaine de Kooning’s Bacchus in the house’s May 20 sale of Modern & Post-War Art, which earned $57,000, works by the abstract expressionist are on offer in different mediums: a circa 1980-85 oil-on-silk work in hues of pink, orange and yellow ($20,000-30,000), a circa 1980 watercolor ($4,000-6,000), and a circa 1985 bronze relief sculpture Untitled (Cave), cast circa 1992–95 ($25,000-35,000). Joan Mitchell is present with Brush, color lithograph, 1981…
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Auction IndustryChristie’s Presents the Masters of Contemporary Chinese Ink Painting
The upcoming Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings auction, hosted by Christie’s, features several influential modern and contemporary Chinese artists. Held on May 27th, 2021 beginning at 10:00 PM EDT, the sale will include works from Fu Baoshi, Zhang Daqian, Wu Guanzhong, and Li Keran, among others. FU BAOSHI (1904 - 1965), Chess Playing, 1943. Image from Christie’s. Fu Baoshi (1904 - 1965) Leading the New Chinese Painting Movement, Fu Baoshi aided the rise of ink painting. The artist frequently blended foreign styles and expressive techniques to create his paintings with spontaneous brushstrokes. Fu experimented by throwing ink or paint at a canvas. Occasionally compared to the works of ancient masters, Fu’s ink paintings invite the viewer to observe their emotional and cultural meaning. The upcoming sale presents an ink and color piece from Fu Baoshi (HKD 40,000,000 - $50,000,000 / USD 5,150,000 - $6,440,000). In the painting, Fu renders trees with a combination of dry and wet ink brushstrokes. Thin outlines demonstrate the texture of the branches. The ink painting also shows two chess players and an observant monk. ZHANG DAQIAN (1899 - 1983), Lotus in the Wind, 1961. Image from Christie’s. Zhang Daqian (1899 - 1983) Zhang Daqian mastered many artistic styles but always returned to splashed-ink techniques. He developed the style rather late in his career. Zhang was long recognized as a prolific painter. He studied and made replicas of traditional paintings in an attempt to learn the techniques of Chinese masters. When the artist was struggling with cataracts and diminished eyesight, he began employing broad splashes of paint to emulate landscapes in Chinese art. A strong example of this technique can be found in Zhang’s Lotus in the Wind, presented in the upcoming auction (HKD 3,800,000 - $4,800,000 / USD 489,200 - $617,900). The ink painting shows intertwined flowers and leaf clusters. Drawing the eye toward layered colors and ink, the piece conjures elements of a lotus pond. WU GUANZHONG (1919 - 2010), North Wudang Mountain. Image from Christie’s. Wu Guanzhong (1919 - 2010) Wu Guanzhong described himself as “a snake swallowing an elephant.” The…
