10 maggio 2016, NY – 318,388,000 dollari* e il nuovo record d’asta per il diavolo nero di Basquiat a 57,2 milioni. Questi i primi numeri della Evening Sale di arte contemporanea e del dopoguerra da Christie’s a New York di questa sera. Nove invenduti su 61 opere offerte, 118 milioni di dollari solo per i primi tre lotti classificati e cinque nuovi record realizzati.
Tra i top lot annunciati prima dell’asta vi erano un Mark Rothko e un Clyfford Still che sono passati sotto il martello di Jussi Pylkkanen prima del Basquait e che non hanno fatto fuochi d’artificio. Così quando i rilanci, dopo un inizio a rilento, sono cresciuti fino ad arrivare a 50 milioni di dollari, la sala è scoppiata in un applauso. Ancora un rilancio di un milione… e il Basquiat è venduto! Per $57,285,000, realizzando il nuovo record d’asta per l’artista.
“Untitled”, dipinto nel 1982 da un giovane Basquiat ventiduenne, era stimato oltre $40 milioni. Fu realizzato a Modena, nei primi anni della sua breve carriera. E’ un suo autoritratto in cui si rappresenta come un diavolo nero che emerge da un’esplosione di pittura gettata sulla tela alla maniera di Jackson Pollock.
Come aveva anticipato Brett Gorvy, capo dipartimento internazionale di arte contemporanea e del dopoguerra, in una dichiarazione prima della vendita: «Untitled è una tela potente. Inghiottisce istantaneamente qualsiasi persona la guardi. Siamo convinti che la qualità e la rarità dell’opera susciterà moltissimo interesse a livello globale e che realizzerà il nuovo record d’asta per l’artista».
Previsione azzeccata, dunque. Il precedente top price di Basquiat era stato raggiunto nel 2013 da “Dustheads”, sempre del 1982, aggiudicata da Christie’s a New York per 48.843.750 $.
Secondo posto in classifica per la grande tela di Mark Rothko No. 17 – nota anche come Green on Blue on Blue- realizzata nel 1957, che da una stima di $30-40millioni si è fermata a $32,645,000. L’aspettativa era maggiore perchè si tratta di un raro esempio di tela blu. Come detto, anche PH-234 di Clyfford Still del 1948 e presentato in catalogo – se ne è aggiudicato la copertina – a $25-35 milioni, non ha fatto faville rispetto alle attese. Con la battuta a $28,165,000, si è aggiudicato il terzo posto.
Molto bene le donne in catalogo: Joan Mitchell con il grande olio (261.6 x 200.6 cm.) del 1969 “Noon” a $9,797,000, ha quasi raddoppiato la stima più bassa. Agnes Martin ha raggiunto $10,693,000 con “Orange Grove” del 1965 (stima $6,500,000 – $8,500,000). Nuovo record per l’artista.
Anche Richard Prince ha battuto se stesso. La sensuale infermiera di Runaway Nurse è stata venduta per $9,685,000 superando gli 8.454.931 $ (4.241.250 £) di un’altra infermiera, Overseas Nurse, venduta in asta da Sotheby’s a Londra nel 2008.
Gli altri due world record della serata sono stati per Mike Kelley (Memory Ware Flat 1, $3,301,000 ) e Kerry James Marshall (Plunge, $2,165,000).
Infine si segnala che degli undici Calder in catalogo, nove hanno cambiato proprietario per un totale di oltre 24.6 milioni di dollari. Per tutti gli altri lotti, di seguito l’elenco completo.
*il totale dell’omologa vendita 2015 era stato di 658,532,000$
Bruce Nauman (B. 1941)
Eat War
neon tubing with clear glass tubing in suspension frame 5 3/8 x 31 1/4 x 2 in. (13.7 x 79.4 x 5.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $800,000 – $1,200,000
PRICE REALIZED $1,685,000
Mike Kelley (1954-2012)
Memory Ware Flat 1
paper pulp, tile grout, acrylic, beads, buttons and jewelry on panel 70 ½ x 46 ½ x 4 ½ in. (180 x 118 x 11.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,800,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,301,000
Richard Prince (B. 1949)
Untitled (Fashion)
Ektacolor print image: 40 x 28 in. (101.6 x 71.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,853,000
Richard Prince (B. 1949)
Untitled (Fashion)
Ektacolor print mounted on Sintra image: 60 x 40 in. (152.4 x 101.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,405,000
Christopher Wool (B. 1955)
And If You
enamel on aluminum 108 x 72 in. (274.3 x 182.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $12,000,000 – $18,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $13,605,000
Robert Gober (B. 1954)
Urinal
plaster, wire lath, wood, semi-gloss enamel paint 28 x 18 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. (71.1 x 46.9 x 29.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $1,445,000
Jasper Johns (B. 1930)
Untitled
paint stick on paper 26 x 34 in. (66 x 86.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,405,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Untitled
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint 41 1/4 x 45 1/4 x 10 5/8 in. (104.8 x 115 x 27 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,749,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Red Stalk
standing mobile—sheet metal, rod, wire and paint 30 3/4 x 26 3/4 x 12 1/2 in. (78 x 68 x 32 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,800,000 – $2,200,000
PRICE REALIZED $1,985,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Sumac 17
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint 41 5/8 x 75 1/2 x 39 3/8 in. (105.7 x 192 x 100 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $5,765,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Untitled
standing mobile—sheet metal, brass, wire and paint 7 1/2 x 6 1/2 x 1 7/8 in. (19 x 16.5 x 4.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED $581,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Claw
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint 47 x 93 x 56 in. (119.4 x 236.2 x 142.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,973,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Franji Pani
standing mobile—sheet metal, rod, wire and paint 91 x 53 1/2 x 30 3/4 in. (231.1 x 135.9 x 78.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,853,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
White Moon
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint 23 x 114 x 37 in. (58.4 x 289.6 x 94 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,500,000 – $5,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,973,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Untitled
standing mobile – sheet metal, rod, wire and paint 108 5/8 x 142 1/2 x 59 in. (276 x 362 x 150 cm.)
ESTIMATE $6,000,000 – $9,000,000
UNSOLD
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Rouge et Noir
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint 33 7/8 x 64 3/4 x 7 7/8 in. (86 x 164.5 x 20 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,800,000 – $2,200,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,021,000
Mark Rothko (1903-1970)
No. 17
oil on canvas 91 1/2 x 69 1/2 in. (232.5 x 176.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $30,000,000 – $40,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $32,645,000
Joan Mitchell (1925-1992)
Noon
oil on canvas 103 x 79 in. (261.6 x 200.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $9,797,000
Willem de Kooning (1904-1997)
Untitled XVIII
oil on canvas 88 x 77 in. (223.5 x 195.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $4,757,000
Cy Twombly (1928-2011)
Untitled
oil paint and wax crayon on paper 17 1/2 x 14 in. (44.5 x 35.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,965,000
Clyfford Still (1904-1980)
PH-66
oil on canvas 90 1/2 x 67 1/2 in. (229.9 x 171.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $8,000,000 – $12,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $9,125,000
Robert Ryman (B. 1930)
Venue
oil on canvas 84 x 84 1/4 in. (213.4 x 214 cm.)
ESTIMATE $8,000,000 – $12,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $9,349,000
Frank Stella (B. 1936)
Slieve More
metallic powder in polymer emulsion on canvas 77 x 81 1/4 in. (195.6 x 206.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
UNSOLD
Yves Klein (1928-1962)
Untitled Blue Monochrome (IKB 108)
dry pigment and synthetic resin on canvas mounted on masonite 19 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (50 x 50 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $4,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,301,000
Agnes Martin (1912-2004)
Orange Grove
oil and graphite on canvas 72 x 72 in. (182.9 x 182.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $6,500,000 – $8,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $10,693,000
Agnes Martin (1912-2004)
The Wave
wood, Plexiglas and beads 10 3/4 x 10 3/4 x 2 1/8 in. (27.3 x 27.3 x 5.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $400,000 – $600,000
PRICE REALIZED $425,000
Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985)
Rue de l’Entourloupe
oil on canvas 35 x 45 ¾ in. (89 x 116 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $4,869,000
Clyfford Still (1904-1980)
PH-234
oil on canvas 69 x 59 5/8 in. (175.3 x 151.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $25,000,000 – $35,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $28,165,000
Sam Francis (1923-1994)
Red No. 1
oil on canvas 64 x 45 in. (162.5 x 114.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $4,421,000
Sam Francis (1923-1994)
Green
oil on canvas 50 3/4 x 63 1/2 in. (128.9 x 161.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,800,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $1,925,000
Joan Mitchell (1925-1992)
South
diptych—oil on canvas each: 102 3/8 x 78 1/4 in. (260 x 198.8 cm.) overall: 102 3/8 x 157 1/2 in. (260.1 x 400.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $4,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,749,000
Adolph Gottlieb (1903-1974)
Omens of Spring
oil, gouache, tempera and casein on canvas 68 x 92 in. (172.7 x 233.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,405,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Spring
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,285,000
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)
Sailboats
oil and Magna on canvas 60 x 74 in. (152.4 x 188 cm.)
ESTIMATE $7,000,000 – $10,000,000
PRICE REALIZED
Gerhard Richter (B. 1932)
Venice (Island)
oil on canvas 19 5/8 x 27 1/2 in. (50 x 70 cm.)
ESTIMATE $7,000,000 – $10,000,000
PRICE REALIZED
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988)
Untitled
acrylic on canvas 94 x 197 in. (238.7 x 500.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED $57,285,000
Michaël Borremans (B. 1963)
The Rug
oil on canvas
39 3/4 x 47 1/4 in. (101 x 120 cm.)
ESTIMATE $700,000 – $1,000,000
UNSOLD
Richard Prince (B. 1949)
Runaway Nurse
inkjet and acrylic on canvas 110 ¼ x 66 in. (280 x 167.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $7,000,000 – $10,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $9,685,000
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Liz
acrylic and silkscreen inks on canvas 40 x 40 in. (101.6 x 101.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $10,000,000 – $15,000,000
UNSOLD
Kerry James Marshall (B. 1955)
Plunge
acrylic and paper collage on canvas 87 x 109 in. (220.9 x 276.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,165,000
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988)
Untitled
oilstick and wax crayon on paper 30 x 22 in. (76.2 x 55.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,189,000
Jeff Koons (B. 1955)
Lobster
mirror-polished stainless steel with transparent color coating 57 7/8 x 18 7/8 x 37 in. (147 x 47.9 x 94 cm.)
ESTIMATE $6,000,000 – $8,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $6,885,000
Mark Tansey (B. 1949)
Invisible Hand
oil on canvas 83 7/8 x 71 7/8 in. (213 x 182.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,500,000 – $4,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $5,317,000
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
The Two Sisters (After de Chirico) acrylic and silkscreen inks on canvas
50 x 42 in. (127 x 106.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $1,805,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
10 White Dots
standing mobile—sheet metal, brass wire and paint 38 x 40 x 11 in. (96.5 x 101.6 x 27.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
UNSOLD
Mark Rothko (1903-1970)
Untitled
oil on paper mounted on canvas 24 x 18 in. (60.9 x 45.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,189,000
Willem de Kooning (1904-1997)
Untitled XXIX
oil on canvas 77 x 88 in. (195.6 x 223.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $4,477,000
Willem de Kooning (1904-1997)
Untitled
oil on paper laid down on canvas 41 3/8 x 30 1/8 in. (105 x 76.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,045,000
Anselm Kiefer (B. 1945)
Lorelei
oil, emulsion, acrylic, lead, plaster, birdcage and lacquer on canvas 74 3/4 x 110 1/4 x 11 in. (189.9 x 280 x 27.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $700,000 – $1,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $785,000
Barry X Ball (B. 1955)
Sleeping Hermaphrodite
sculpture: Belgian Black Marble base: Carrara Marble, stainless steel, Delrin overall: 68 ½ x 35 7/8 x 31 5/8 in. (174 x 91.1 x 80.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $800,000
PRICE REALIZED $545,000
Gerhard Richter (B. 1932)
Abstraktes Bild (903-7)
oil on canvas 32 1/4 x 40 1/8 in. (82 x 102 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $4,085,000
Martin Kippenberger (1953-1997)
The Capitalistic Futuristic Painter in His Car
diptych—oil, lacquer and stickers on canvas overall: 70 7/8 x 118 1/8 in. (180 x 300 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
UNSOLD
Richard Prince (B. 1949)
Untitled (Jokes)
acrylic on canvas 96 x 75 in. (244 x 190.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,500,000 – $4,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $4,757,000
Christopher Wool (B. 1955)
Untitled
enamel on canvas laid down on panel 108 x 72 in. (274.3 x 182.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
UNSOLD
Jeff Koons (B. 1955)
Smooth Egg with Bow (Magenta/Violet)
mirror-polished stainless steel with transparent color coating 83 ½ x 76 5/8 x 62 in. (212.1 x 194.6 x 157.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $7,000,000 – $10,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $7,445,000
Glenn Ligon (B. 1960)
Stranger #36
oil stick, coal dust and gesso on canvas laid down on panel 96 x 72 in. (243.8 x 182.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000
PRICE REALIZED $1,925,000
Richard Prince (B. 1949)
Untitled (Cowboy)
Ektacolor print image: 47 3/4 x 77 in. (121.3 x 195.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED $3,525,000
Cy Twombly (1928-2011)
Untitled
lead pencil, oil based house paint and wax crayon on canvas 39 3/8 x 59 3/8 in. (100 x 151 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,800,000 – $3,500,000
UNSOLD
Donald Judd (1928-1994)
Untitled
painted aluminum 11 7/8 x 141 3/4 x 11 7/8 in. (30 x 360 x 30 cm.)
ESTIMATE $800,000 – $1,200,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,517,000
Edward Ruscha (B. 1937)
If, If
acrylic on canvas 48 x 144 in. (121.9 x 365.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $1,505,000
Lucio Fontana (1899-1968)
Concetto spaziale, Attese
waterpaint on canvas 29 x 23 3/4 in. (73.5 x 60.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,105,000