This
day sale of Contemporary Art at Christie's May 12, 2012 is highlighted
by some good works by Anselm Kiefer, Wayne Thiebaud, Sean
Scully, Andy Warhol, Jules de Balincourt and Mark Bradford.
Lot
528 is a strong and interesting work by Anselm Kiefer (b. 1945).
A chalk, palm, acrylic, glue and plaster in artist's steel
frame
under glass, it is entitled "Palmsonntag." It measures 112
1/2 by
55 1/2 inches and was created in 2006. It has an estimate of
$200,000 to $300,000 and
sold for $242,500 including the buyer's premium as so all results
mentioned in this article.
Lot
413, "Near Night," by Sean Scully, oil on canvas, 84 by 96 inches, 2005
Lot 413 is an excellent large oil on canvas by
Sean Scully (b. 1945) that is entitled "Near Night." It
measures 84 by 96 inches and was painted in 2005. It has an
estimate of $600,000 to $800,000.
It sold for $722,500.
Lot
447, "Even Change," by Mark Bradford, acrylic on canvas, 48 by 60
inches, 2002
Lot 447 might be described as a "micro" Scully for
its seemingly random arrangement of generally rectangular shapes of
related colors. It is entitled "Even Change" and is by Mark
Bradford (b.1961). A permanent weave end papers, xerox and
acrylic on canvas, it measures 48 by 60 inches and was painted in 2002.
It has a modest estimate of $50,000 to $70,000. It sold for $278,500.
Lot
150, "Delta," by Wayne Thiebaud, pastel and graphite on paper, 31 by 22
1/2 inches, 1998
Lot 150 is a very lovely pastel and graphite on
paper by Wayne Thiebaud (b.1920). It measures 31 by 22 1/2
inches and was created in 1998. It has an estimate of
$300,000 to $400,000. It
sold for $662,500.
Lot
253, "Water Forms," watercolor and graphite on paper laid down on
board, 15 by 21 1/2 inches, 1961, left; and Lot 252, "Untitled,"
watercolor and graphite on paper, 16 3/4 by 13 7/8 inches, 1962, right,
both by William Baziotes
The auction has two very nice watercolors and
graphite on paper by William Baziotes (1912-1963). Lot 263 is
entitled "Water Forms" and measures 15 by 21 1/2 inches and was
executed in 1961. Lot 252 is an untitled watercolor
and graphite that measures 16 3/4 by 13 7/8 inches and was executed in
1962. There both had an estimate of $18,000 to $25,000. They each sold
for $30,000.
Lot
251,"Summer Noon J-L-20," by Conrad Marca-Relli, oil, canvas and burlap
collage on canvas, 53 by 72 inches, 1968-circa mid 1980s
Lot 251 is a very colorful and bold work by Conrad
Marca-Relli (1913-2000). An oil, canvas and burlap collage on
canvas, it is entitled "Summer Noon J-L-20" and measures 53 by 72
inches. It was completed in the mid-1980s. It has
an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $158,500.
Lot
423, "Three Lead Coils," by Richard Serra, lead, 86 1/2 by 86 1/2 by 55
inches, 1968
Lot 423 consists of three lead coils and the
sculpture was created in 1968 by Richard Serra (b. 1939). It
measures 86 1/2 by 86 1/2 by 55 inches. It has an estimate of
$350,000 to $450,000. It
sold for $506,500.
Lot
444, "Blind Faith and Tunnel Vision," by Jules de Balincourt, oil and
spray enamel on panel, 78 by 68 inches, 2005
Lot 444 is a large oil and
spray enamel on panel by Jules de Balincourt (b. 1972). It
measures 78 by 68 inches and was created in 2005. It is
entitled "Blind Faith and Tunnel Vision." It has an estimate
of $180,000 to $150,000. It
sold for $314,500.
The catalogue entry
provides the following commentary:
"As a masterly
example of Jules de Balincourt's uneasy investigations into the nature
of human civilization,
Blind Faith and Tunnel Vision is a powerful mixture of
apocalyptic cityscape combined with an almost fairytale multi-colored
rainbow to protray the artist's sense of unease at the apparently
contradictory aspects of human nature."
S See The City
Review article on the Spring 2010 Contemporary Art evening auction at
Christie's
See The City Review article on
the 2010 Spring Contemporary Art evening auction at Christie's
See The City Review on the Spring
2010 Michael Crichton Colllection of Contemporary Art auction at
Christie's
S2 see The
City Review
article on the Fall Contemporary Art evening auction at Sotheby's