Andy Warhol sells at Christie’s, via Art Observed
The contemporary art auctions this week were set off on a bounding start last night, as Christie’s opened its new auction event “If I Live I’ll See You Tuesday” to thunderous results, capping a 35 lot auction that sold all but one work, and achieved a final sales tally of $134 million, as well as a number of world auction records for the artists on sale.
Martin Kippenberger, Untitled (1988), via Christie’s
Peter Doig, Road House (1991), via Christie’s
Loic Gouzer’s penchant for high-paying auction events continued last night, as 16 works set world auction records. Â Martin Kippenberger’s Untitled portrait lead the way, bounding to a $18.6 million final price, as did Peter Doig’s Road House, a 1991 work that edged over its high estimate to bring in $11.9 million and notch the artist a new sales high. Â Richard Prince also saw a new record for his work, as his Nurse painting pulled in a $8.65 final tally.
Richard Prince sells at Christie’s, via Art Observed
Alex Israel, Sky Backdrop (2012), via Christie’s
Other auction records were also achieved by Thomas Schütte ($5.3 million), Alex Israel ($1.02 million), On Kawara ($4,197,000), and Dan Colen ($3,077,000).  Even Louis Eisner, the young Still House affiliate, who had previously been untested at auction, notched a new world record, selling Marshall Head for twice its estimate ($137,000).  Sales highlights also included the $10.4 million sale of Andy Warhol’s Little Electric Chair, and Jeff Koons’s Aqualung, which pulled in $11.5 million.
Christie’s will look to continue this success tonight with the rest of its contemporary evening auction offering. Â The sale kicks off at 7PM.
Dan Colen, Boo Fuck’n Hoo (2006), via Christie’s
—D. Creahan
Read more:
“If I Live I’ll See You Tuesday” [Christie’s]
“Underwear, Electric Chair Fuel Christie’s New York Sale” [Bloomberg]
“Kelly Crow at the Christie’s Contemporary Auction” [WSJ]
“Auction Report: “If I Live I’ll See You Tuesday” at Christie’s” [Art Info]
