David Hockney, The Splash (1966), via Sotheby’s
As the first batch of major art fairs gets underway in North America, the secondary market turns its attention to Frieze London this week, as the first test of its health gets underway in the British capital. Kicking off two weeks of auctions at the major auction houses, there should be ample chance for bidders to show just how confident they are on the current state of Britain, its place in the European art market, and how Brexit might have changed those forecasts. With Impressionist and Modern Sales scheduled for this week, and a trio of Contemporary and 20th Century Sales next, the month of February should be an intriguing bellwether for the coming months, and perhaps for 2020 more broadly.
Ed Ruscha, God Knows Where (2014), via Phillips
This Tuesday, February 4th, the sales launch at Sotheby’s, where a 33-lot offering of Impressionist, Modern and Surrealist works will make the first cut into the week’s sales offerings. Leading the sale is a striking Camille Pissarro work work, which carries an estimate of £8,000,000 — £12,000,000, followed close behind by a colorful Paul Signac seascape, which boasts an estimate of £5,000,000 — £7,000,000. A striking Kirchner rounds out the top of the auction with a £3,000,000 — £5,000,000 estimate.
Rene Magritte, A la rencontre du plaisir (1962), via Christie’s
Sales continue the following evening at Christie’s, where the auction house has continued to split focus on Surrealist works and Impressionist/Modern across separate, back to back sales. Its first auction of the evening, a 25-lot Imp/Modern offering, is lead by an iconic piece by Tamara de Lempicka, seeking to capitalize on the artist’s recent popularity and hinting at a potentially reset auction record at £8,000,000 – £12,000,000. An Alberto Giacometti work also stands at the top of the sale offerings with the same estimate. The sale will then shift into a 24-lot Surrealist program, where René Magritte works are offered in abundance, led by A la rencontre du plaisir, which carries an estimate of £8,000,000 – £12,000,000. A Francis Picabia piece also lingers near the top of the sale lots, with an estimated price of £2,200,000 – £2,800,000.
Camille Pissarro, Gelée blanche, jeune paysanne faisant du feu (1888), via Sotheby’s
Yves Klein, Untitled Anthropometry (ANT 132) (1960), via Sotheby’s
With the sales in the book, attention will turn towards next week, where, during the bustle of Frieze Los Angeles across the Atlantic, the majors will attempt to maintain a thriving interest in contemporary and post-war artists. The week opens with Sotheby’s 47-lot sale on February 11th, which boasts perhaps the highlight of this month’s auctions, David Hockney’s The Splash’ an iconic piece of 60’s pop painting that carries an estimate of £20,000,000 — £30,000,000, and which could well make a run at the artist’s recently set auction record. An Yves Klein Anthropometry piece is also on offer, carrying an estimate of £6,000,000 — £8,000,000.
Paul Signac, La Corne D’Or. Matin (1907), via Sotheby’s
Keith Haring, Untitled (1981), via Phillips
The following evening, Christie’s bringing forward a 57-lot auction offering a varied selection of works for buyers, leading by Jean-Michel Basquiat’s £4,000,000 – £6,000,000 piece The Mosque, an understated but commanding composition that pairs well with the sale’s cover lot, an Andy Warhol portrait of world champion Muhammad Ali. The piece, featuring swirls of color that match the boxer’s powerful aura, is estimated to sell at £3,000,000 – £5,000,000.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, The Mosque (1982), via Christie’s
Andy Warhol, Muhammad Ali (1977), via Christie’s
Sales will round out at Phillips on February 13th, where a 41-lot sale will look to carry any momentum from the week’s sales towards a rousing conclusion. Leading the auction is a large Keith Haring banner, which carries an estimate of £3,000,000 – £4,000,000, while another major highlight comes from Ed Ruscha, whose piece ‘God Knows Where’ carries a pre-sale estimate of £2,500,000 – £3,500,000. Also of note is the sale cover lot, a work by Alex Katz that could outpace its estimate of £500,000 – £700,000 with little effort.
As the week progresses, a more clear picture of the current market’s health should emerge. As always, we will be covering live on Twitter and Instagram.
– D. Creahan
Read more:
Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern Evening Sale [Auction Page]
Christie’s Impressionist and Modern Evening Sale [Auction Page]
Sotheby’s Contemporary Evening Sale [Auction Page]
Christie’s 20th Century and Contemporary Evening Sale [Auction Page]
Phillips 20th Century and Contemporary Sale [Auction Page]
