Louise Bourgeois, Arch of Hysteria (1993), all photos via Emily Heinz for Art Observed

The first sight of the Louise Bourgeois Suspension exhibition at Cheim & Read must be the closest simulation available of watching artworks ascending to heaven. There is a sense that each of the pieces are being called upwards, as their weight hangs below them, pulling them back towards the ground. However, the works don’t fight this strange, heavenly magnetism, and in fact, seem to accept to their celestial trajectory.

“Hanging is an ambivalent gesture,” says Jerry Gorovoy, her assistant and close friend of thirty years, who was kind enough to expand upon her works on the opening night of the show.  “It’s as though they’ve given up.” It’s this sense of the works’ submission that makes the tension of their bold physical presence so palpable.

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The Wall Street Journal takes a look at a set of works by Cy Twombly and Martin Kippenberger on sale next month at Christie’s in New York, which are already commanding impressive estimates.  Twombly’s untitled 1970 canvas of white looping scrawls is estimated to potentially sell for up to $50 million, while Kippenberger’s self-portrait will look to achieve $15 million and $20 million. (more…)

Pablo PIcasso, Tête de Femme (1935), via Sotheby’s

The fall New York auction season is set to commence this evening with Christie’s Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale, followed by Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern Art Sale on Wednesday evening.  The following is a preview of sales of the week.

Fernand Léger, Élément Méchanique (1920), via Sotheby’s (more…)

Art collector and Newspaper Magnate Peter Brant is selling Jeff Koons‘ Balloon Dog (Orange) from his collection to auction this November at Christie’s in New York.  The sale will go to benefit his Brant Foundation Art Study Center in Greenwich, CT, and is estimated at $35 to $55 million, a noteworthy figure that places the low estimate well-over Koons’ current auction record of $33.6 million. (more…)