» Frieze Art Fair 2010 - AO Art Observed

AO on Site – London: Frieze Art Fair 2010; final image set and newslink summary

Monday, October 18th, 2010

Hooded Woman Seated Facing the Wall, Spanish Pavillion. Venice, Italy. 2003. All photos by Art Observed unless noted

With Freize 2010 coming to a close Sunday evening in London’s Regent Park, the fair’s guests have had a chance to reflect on the various elements of the event that defined the weekend. The fair opened on Friday with a VIP preview that saw encouraging multimillion-dollar sales; however, from booth to booth the art seemed to lack the brute sex appeal that in past years drove buyers to such transaction. With a global recession not far enough behind, it appears that it will be a while before the same level of extravagance returns to Frieze. Some pieces sold well initally, but not all pieces were bought up in boom time fashion, Damien Hirst’s Viagra-tablet-filled pill cabinet, with an estimated asking prince of $6 million dollars, reportedly remained unsold at Gagosian Gallery by at least the end of Friday night’s event.

more photos, story and a full news link summary after the jump…

(more…)

Posted in AO On Site | Comments Off on AO on Site – London: Frieze Art Fair 2010; final image set and newslink summary

AO Auction Results – London: Sotheby’s Oct. 15th Contemporary Art & 20th C Italian Art Bring In Combined Total of 30.4 million GBP

Friday, October 15th, 2010

Andy Warhol, Diamond Dust Shoes, 1980 (est. 1.3 -1.6 million GBP, realized 1,553,250 GBP), via Sothebys.com

Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in London today brought in 13.3 million GBP against a low presale estimate of just under 10 million GBP. Of the 39 lots offered for sale, 4 were bought in, 15 lots sold above their high presale estimates, and 2 works sold for under their low presale estimates. Andy Warhol‘s Diamond Dust Shoes, never before seen at auction, realized 1,553,250 GBP against a high estimate of 1.6 million GBP and was the highest earning lot of the night.

Lucio Fontana, Concetto Spaziale, Attese, 1965 (est. 1.5-2 million GBP, realized 2,281,250 GBP), via Sothebys.com

more images and story after the jump…

(more…)

Posted in Auction Results | Comments Off on AO Auction Results – London: Sotheby’s Oct. 15th Contemporary Art & 20th C Italian Art Bring In Combined Total of 30.4 million GBP

AO Auction Results – London: Christie’s Oct. 14th Contemporary Art Auction in London Brings in 19.6 million GBP, Hirst Sells Under Presale Estimate

Friday, October 15th, 2010

Damien Hirst, I am Become Death, Shatterer of Worlds, 2006 (est. 2.5-3.5 million GBP, realized 2.2 million GBP), via Christies.com

Thursday’s Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening auction brought in a total of 19,585,400 GBP, within the presale estimate of 15.9-22.7 million GBP. The auction had a sell through rate of 86% by lot and 92% by value, with 7 of the 51 lots bought in. While 40% of the lots exceeded their high presale estimates, the featured lot did not reach its low presale estimate. Damien Hirst‘s I am Become Death, Shatterer of Worlds carried a presale estimate of 2.5-3.5 million GBP and sold for 2.2 million GBP. All sale totals stated in this article include buyer’s premiums and come directly from Christie’s official website or courtesy of The Baer Faxt.

more results and images after the jump…

(more…)

Posted in Art News | 1 Comment »

AO Auction Results – London: Wednesday, October 13th, Phillips de Pury Contemporary Art Auction Within Presale Estimates, Sets New Records for Aaron Young, Sterling Ruby

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

David H0ckney, Autumn Pool, 1978 (est 700,000 – 1 million GBP, realized 1,329,250 GBP), via Phillipsdepury.com

Wednesday’s Contemporary Art Evening Sale at Phillips de Pury in London, which carried a presale estimate of 5.6 – 8 million GBP, brought in 6,562,900 GBP, with 21 of 56 lots unsold (86% by value, 69% by lot). The featured lot, David Hockney‘s Autumn Pool, sold for 1.3 million GBP against a high presale estimate of 1 million GBP. This also broke the record for a work on paper by the artist at auction.

Andy Warhol, The Scream (after Edvard Munch), 1984 (est. 500,000-700,000 GBP), via Phillipsdepury.com

more story and pictures after the jump…

(more…)

Posted in Auction Results | Comments Off on AO Auction Results – London: Wednesday, October 13th, Phillips de Pury Contemporary Art Auction Within Presale Estimates, Sets New Records for Aaron Young, Sterling Ruby

AO Auction Preview: Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips de Pury to Hold Contemporary Art Auctions This Week in London During Frieze Art Fair

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Damien Hirst, I am Become Death, Shatterer of Worlds, 2006 (est. 2.5-3.5 million GBP), via Christies.com

The Frieze Art Fair begins this week in London and is accompanied by Contemporary Art sales at the three major auction houses. This year, Phillips de Pury will kick things off with a 56 lot evening sale on October 13th, followed by a 51 lot sale at Christie’s on the 14th and a 40 lot sale at Sotheby’s on the 15th. After the dismal results of last year’s equivalent sales and the lackluster results of the summer sales, the art world is hoping that these auctions will give a stronger indication that the market for contemporary Western art is in fact recovering.

Read more…

(more…)

Posted in Art News | 1 Comment »