Axel Stein,
Sotheby's head of the department, discussing Lot 23, "Les Vitamerdes de
l'Space," by Matta, oil on canvas, 12 1/8 by 20 1/8 inches,1942
Lot 23, "Les
Vitamerdes de l'Space," by Matta is an oil on canvas from 1942 that
measures 12 1/8 by 20 1/8 inches. It has an estimate of
$200,000 to $300,000. It
sold for $302,500.
Lot
151, "Untitled," by Matta, oilon canvas 24 3/4 by 28 78 inches, circa
1969
Lot 151 is an
untitled oil on canvas by Matta that measures 24 3/4 by 28 7/8 inches
and was painted circa 1969. It is being sold by the
Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale. It has an estimate of
$25,000 to $35,000. It
sold for $46,875.
Lot 8,
"Untitled (Figura Vegetal)," by Wilfredo Lam, oil on canvas, 32 3/8 by
28 1/2 inches, 1950
Lot 8 is a very
strong untitled work by Wilfredo Lam (1902-1982). It measures
32 3/8 by 28 1/2 inches and was painted in 1950. It has an
estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It
sold for $254,500.
Lot 25,
"Charbon de Mer," by Wilfredo Lam, oiland watrcolor on linen, 25 1/4 by
31 7/8 inches, 1945
Another
excellent work by Lam is Lot 25, "Charbon de Mer," an oil and
watercolor on linen that measures 25 1/4 by 31 7/8 inches and was
executed in 1945. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000.
It sold for
$542,500.
Lot
50, "Re-Encuentro (Danzantes)," by Rufino Tamayo, oil and sand on
canvas, 51 3/8 by 38 3/8 inches, 1972
The best work in
the auction is Lot 50, "Re-Encuentro (Danzantes)," by Rufino Tamayo
(1899-1991). An oil and sand on canvas, it measures 5 1/3/8
by 38 3/8 inches and is dated 1972. It is one of the artist's
most beautiful paintings It has been exhibited at the Perls
Gallery in New York and The Phillips Collection in Washington and
widely published. It has an estimate of $325,000 to $425,000.
It sold for
$458,500.
Lot 46,
"Hombre y Mujer," by Rufino Tamayo, oil and sand on canvas, 51 1/4 by
38 1/8 inches, 1970
Anorther very
fine oil and sand on canvas by Tamayo is Lot 46, "Hombre y Mujer."
It measures 51 1/4 by 38 1/8 inches and was painted in 1970.
It has an estimate of $350,000 to $450,000. It sold for $410,500.
Lot 22,
"Onagro (Wild Ass)," by Francisco Toledo, oil and sand on canvas, 39
3/4 by 51 1/4 inches, 1976
Lot 22 is an
impressive oil and sand on canvas by Francisco Toledo (b. 1940)
entitled "Onagro (Wild Ass)." It measures 39 3/4 by 51 1/4
inches and was painted in 1976. It has an estimate of
$400,000 to $600,000. It
sold for $434,500.
Lot
27, "Gatos con Pesadillas," by Francisco Toledo, oil andsand
on canvas, 47 3/4 by 59 1/8 inches,1975
Another large
work by Toledo is Lot 27, "Gatos can Pesadilla," an oil and sand on
canvas that measures 47 3/4 by 59 1/8 inches. It was painted
in 1975 and has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $602,500.
Lot 127,
"Sapo con Coches," by Francisco Toledo, watercolor, gouache and ink on
paper, 10 7/8 by 6 3/8 inches, circa 1970s
A very good
watercolor, gouache and ink on paper by Toledo, Lot 127, is entitled
"Sapo con Coches." It measures 10 7/8 by 6 3/8 inches and was
executed in the 1970. It has an estimate of $20,000 to
$25,000. It
failed to sell.
Lot 32,
"Reticularea Cuadrada," by Geo, stainless steeel and iron
construction, 38 by 38 by 25 2/3 inches, 1971
Lot 32 is a
lovely stainless steel and iron hanging sculpture by Gego (1912-1994).
It measures 38 by 38 by 25 2/3 inches and was created in
1971. It has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $638,500, an auction
record for the artist.
Lot 33 "La
Scie a Metaux (The Hacksaw)," by Jesus Rafael Soto, paint, plaster and
metal on isorel hardboard, 39 1/2 inches square, 1960
One of the
auction's more interesting works is Lot 33, "La Scie a Metaux (The
Hacksaw)," by Jesus Rafael Soto (1923-2005), a 39 1/2-inch square
paint, plaster and metal on isorel hardboard. It was created
in 1960 and has an estimate of $700,000 to $900,000. It sold for $1,082,500,
an auction record for the artist. The hacksaw
hangs close to the background that looks like a lava deposit and the
work is about visual vibrations and disintegration, the catalogue entry
suggests.
Axel Stein of
Christie's discussing Lot 39, "Volumen Suspendido (Double Vibracion),"
by Jesus Rafael Soto, acrylic on wood panel, metal and nylon string, 47
1/4 inches in diameter, circa 1970
Another Soto
work is Lot 39, "Volumen Suspendido (Double Vibracion)," an acrylic on
wood panel with metal and nylon string. It is 47 1/4 inches
in diameter and was created circa 1970. It has an estimate of
$350,000 to $450,000.
It sold for $398,500.
Lot 47,"Pedro
Pintor," by Fernando Botero, pastel on paper, 63 7/8 by 46 inches, 1973
Lot 47 is a
large and very impressive pastel on paper by Fernando Botero (b. 1932).
Entitled "Pedro Pintor," it measures 63 7/8 by 46 inches and
was created in 1973. It has an estimate of $400,000 to
$600,000. It
sold for $434,500.
Lot 20,
"Zapatista," by Alfredo Ramos Martinez, tempera and conte crayon on
newsprint, 22 by 16 7/8 inches, 1931
One of the
finest works in the auction is Lot 20, "Zapatista," by Alfredo Ramos
Martinez (1871-1946). A tempera and Conte crayon on
newsprint, it measures 22 by 16 7/8 inches and was created in 1931.
It has a modest estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. It sold for $62,500.
Another work by
Martinez is Lot 21, "Vendedoras de Flores," a gouache, pastel and
charcoal on cardboard mounted on board, 30 1/4 by 24 7/8 inches.
It was created about 1933 and has an estiamte of $175,000 to
$225,000. It
sold for $254,500.
Lot 113,
"Chinchorro en Acapulco," graphite and watercolor on paper, 8 7/8 by 13
1/8 inches, 1956, left; Lot 44, "Nina con Muneca," tempera on linen, 20
by 15 inches, 1939, center; Lot 111, "Mexican Family,"
watercolor and ink on rice paper mounted on board, 14 7/8 by
19 5/8 inches, 1935, right; all by Diego Rivera
Lot 44, "Nina
con Muneca," is a fine tempera on linen by Diego Rivera
(1885-1957). It measures 20 by 15 inches and was created in
1939. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000.
It sold for
$362,500.
Lot 113, "Chinchorro en Acapulco," is a graphite and
watercolor on paper by Rivera that measures 8 7/8 by 13 1/8 inches and
was created in 1956. It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for $40,625.
Lot 111, "Mexican Family," is a watercolor and ink on rice
paper mounted on board by Rivera. It measures 14 7/8 by 19
5/8 inches and was created in 1935. It has an estimate of
$40,000 to $60,000. It
sold for $74,500.
Lot 11,
"Angelus," by Claudio Bravo, oil on canvas, 67 by 47 inches, 1999
Lot 11 is a fine
drapery painting by Claudio Bravo (1936-2011) that is entitled
"Angelus." An oil on canvas, it measuires 67 by 47 inches and
was painted in 1999. It has an estimate of $900,000 to
$1,200,000. It
sold for $1,510,500, an auction record for the artist.
Lot 141,
"Untitled,"by Leonora Carrington, gouache and watrcolor on paper laid
down on cardboard, 4 1/8 by 15 inches
Lot 141 is a
very fine gouache and watercolor on paper laid down on cardboard by
Leonora Carrington (1917-2011). It measures 4/18 by 15
inches. It has an estimate of $22,000 to $28,000. It sold for $22,500.
Lot 93, "In
Silence," by The-Merger: Mario Miguel Gonzalez, Niels Moleiro and Alain
Pino, stainless steel, bowling ball and bowling pin on quartz
base, 28 1/4 by 54 by 12 inches, 2011
Lot 93, "In
Silence," by The-Merger: Mario Miguel Gonzalez (b. 1971), Niels
Moleiro (b. 1970) and Alain Pino (b. 1974), is a work that includes
stainless steel, bowling ball and bowling pin
on quartz base. It measures 28 1/4 by 54
by 12 inches and was created in 2011. It has an estimate of
$22,000 to $28,000. It
sold for $46,875.
Lot 159,
"Untitled (Rojo)," by Alejandro Obregon," oil and acrylic on canvas, 30
1/8 by 45 3/4 inches, 1962
Lot 159 is a
very strong, untitled abstraction by Alejandro Obregon (1920-1992).
An oil and acrylic on canvas, it measures 30 1/8 by 45 3/4
inches and was created in 1962. It has an estimate of $50,000
to $70,000. It
sold for $68,500.
Lot 162,
"Condor," by Alejandro Abregon, oil on canvas, 39 1/8 by 50
7/8 inches
Another Abregon
is Lot 162, "Condor," an oil on canvas that measures 39 1/8 by 50 7/8
inches. It has an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. It sold for $98,500.
Lot 34,
"Serie C (28)," by Cildo Meireles, acrylic and wooden rulers laid down
on masonite, 24 3/8 by 25 1/8 inches, 1996
Lot 34 is an
acrylic and wooden rulers laid down on masonite by Cildo Meireles (b.
1948) and titled "Serie C (28)." It measures 24 3/8 by 25
1/8 inches and was created in 1996. It has an
estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $230,500.
Lot 16 is an anonymous, 17th Century Mexican school
painting of Moctezuma II that measures 72 13/16 by 38 3/8 inches.
It has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,000,000. It sold for $1,650,500.
Lot 14, "Manana Luminosa," is an Atl-color on compressed
wood that measures 63 1/3 by 122 inches and was painted in 1942.
Like Lot 16, it is part of the National Heritage of Mexicao
and cannot be permanently exported and was not able
for inspection in New York. It has an
estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,000,000. It sold for $1,650,500,
an auction record for the artist.
See The City
Review article on the Spring 2012 Latin American Art auction at
Christie's New York
See The City Review article on the
Spring 2012 Latin American Art auction at Sotheby's New York
