By Carter B. Horsley

Lot 256 is a simple but stunning untitled work depicting a bird with spread wings by Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988). An oil, pastel and graphite on paper, it measures 24 by 17 inches. It was executed in 1981. The catalogue entry remarks that "the winged animal is a recurring leitmotif throughout his oeuvre, occurring as a proud symbol of freedom and artistic independence." It has a modest estimate of $100,000 to $150,000.

Lot 223 is a very amusing "White Electric Chair" by Ivan Navarro (b. 1972). Consisting of fluorescent light bulbs and electrical fixtures, it is a superb night-time lounge chair for Death Row. Its dimensions are 47 1/8 by 27 5/8 by 39 3/8 inches. It was made in 2005. It has an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000.

Lot 207 is a plaster cast with diamond dust, sugar and paint in a Plexiglass vitrine by Terence Koh (b. 1977). Entitled "Coke Head," it measures 23 2/3 by 13 3/4 by 13 3/4 inches. It was executed in 2006 and has an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000.

Lot 277 is a nice, untitled watercolor and graphite on paper by Sean Scully (b. 1945). It measures 12 5/8 by 16 inches and was painted in 1996. It has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.

Lot 289 is a quite stunning large watercolor by Francisco Clemente (b. 1952). Entitled "Honey and Rust," it is in two parts and the overall dimensions are 47 3/4 by 36 inches. It was painted in 2007. It has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.

Lot 290 is an impressive sculpture of a horse by Deborah Butterfield (b. 1949). Made of wood, rebar, steel wire and Dextrine, it is entitled "Large Horse #4" and measures 76 by 124 by 30 inches. It was made in 1979. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000.

Lot 336 is a large, pleasant, untitled sculpture made of wood, fluorescent paint and acrylic by Thomas Scheibitz (b. 1968). It measures 29 1/2 by 75 by 28 3/4 inches and was made in2005. It has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.

Li Tianbing (b. 1974) has two large, interesting and similar works in the auction. Lot 348 is entitled "Enfant Pixel #1" and is 51 inches square and was executed in 2006. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $100,000. Lot 349 is entitled "Travailleur #3" and is 63 3/4 by 51 1/8 inches and was executed in 2005. It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.

One of the more intriguing works in the auction is Lot 355, "Red Hand," by Liu Bolin (b. 1973). It consists of 10 figures made of colored resin and fiberglass on wood, all in different poses, mostly animated. The work was created in 2008. It has a modest estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.

Lot 386 is a painted and carved wood sculpture by Anne Chu (b. 1959) entitled "Tombstone for a King and Queen." It measures 43 3/4 by 66 inches and was created in 2001. It has an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000.

Lot 451 is a very strong abstraction by Conrad Marca-Relli (b. 1913) that is an oil and canvas collage on canvas in two parts. It measures overall 78 by 126 inches and was created in 1972. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.

Lot 478 is a flaming abstraction by Daniel Hesidence (b. 1975). An oil on canvas, it measures 29 by 24 inches and was created in 2006. It has a modest estimate of $6,000 to $8,000.

Lot 479 is an intriguing, rather musical abstraction by Paul Henry Ramirez (b. 1963) that is untitled and from the artist's Space Addiction series. An acrylic on canvas mounted to board, it measures 42 inches square and was created in 2004. It has a modest estimate of $5,000 to $7,000.

See The City Review article on the Christie's, May 20, 1999 Contemporary Art Part 2 auction