Post-War & Contemporary Art evening sale May 14, 2014 at Sotheby's New York

Post-War and Contemporary Art

Sotheby's New York

7 PM, May 14, 2014

Sale No: 2847

Popeye by Koons

Lot 34, "Popeye," by Jeff Koons, mirror polished staintless steel with transparent color coating, 78 by 51 3/4 by 28 1/2 inches, 2009-2011, number three from an edition of three plus one artist's proof

By Carter B. Horsley

The May 14 evening auction at Sotheby's New York of Contemporary Art is highlighted by a dazzling sculpture of Popeye by Jeff Koons, several paintings by Andy Warhol and good examples by Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Detail of "Popeye"

The lot has an estimate on request. It sold for $28,165,000 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in his article. After the sale it was announced at the news conference that it was bought by Steven Wynn, who will exhibit it in The Wynn, his casino in Las Vegas. Its pre-sale high estimate was about $25 million. Other copies belong to Larry Gagosian, the dealer, and Steven A. Cohen, the investor. The work was the cover illustration of the auction's huge catalogue and another work by Koons, "Jim Bean J. B. Turner Train, a 1986 stainless steel work filled with bourbon, was the cover illustration of the May 13, 2014 auction of Contemporary Art at Christie's New York where it sold for $33.7 million in an auction that totalled more than $744 million.

Of the 79 offered works at Sotheby's, 12 did not sell, and the evening's total was $364.3 million, a bit over its pre-sale low estimate of $336.7 million.

At the news conference after the auction, Alexander Rotter, co-head of Sotheby's Worldwide Contemporary Art Department, said that "tonight, the Contemporary market continued its solid ascent with one of Sotheby's biggest ever sales," adding that "global participation was evident throughout the process and helped to drive our sell-through rate of 85 percent." "It was thrilling,"he continued, "to see new benchmarks set time and again," adding that 51 percent of the sold works were brought over their high estimates and artist auction records were set for Rosemarie Trockel, Dan Flavin, Adam McEwen, Matthew Barney, Sarah Lucas, Keith Haring, James Rosenquist, Wade Guyton and Julian Schnabel."

Lot 20, "Undiscovered Genius of the Mississippi Delta," by Jean-Michel Basquiat, acrylic, oilstick and paper collage on five joined canvases, 49 by 185 1/2 inches, 1983

Lot 20 is a very large work by Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) entitled "Undiscovered Genius of the Mississippi Delta." An acrylic, oilstick and paper collage on five joined canvases, it measures 48 by 185 1/2 inches and was painted in 1983.

The catalogue provides the following commentary:

"Monumental in narrative scope and expressive scale, Undiscovered Genius of the Mississippi Delta thunderously embodies the structural tenets of the academic genre of History Painting articulated through Jean-Michel Basquiat's iconic vernacular. A certifiably unrivaled tour-de-force of Basquiat's output, the present work was included in many of the artist's most important traveling retrospectives...[and] its lusicous painterly surface evokes the impassioned gestural brushwork of Franz Kline and Willem de Kooning."

The catalogue entry reproduces four other "1983 Polyptich paintings" by Basquiat.

It has an estimate on request. It sold for $20,685,000.

Lot 50, "Untitled," by Jean-Michel Basquiat, acrylic and oilstick on canvas mounted on wood supports, 60 1/2 inches square, 1982

Lot 50 is an untitled acrylic and oilstick on canvas mounted on wood supports by Basquiat that measures 60 1/2 inches square. It was painted in 1982.

The catalogue entry notes that "with his black eye, missing teeth and apparent facial gashes, the central figure of Untitled recalls Basquiat's fascination with, and perpetuation of, the legends surrounding black sporting heroes of the early to mid-Twentieth Century, in particular those of leading boxers such as Joe Louis, Jack Johnson and Sugar Ray Robinson."

It has an modest estimate of $3,000,000 to $4,000,000. It sold for $4,197,000.

Lot 44, "Big Electric Chair," by Andy Warhol, acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas, 54 by 74 inches, 1968

The auction has several works by Andy Warhol (1928-1987).

The catalogue entry for this lot reproduces 12 other versions of the composition series done between 1967-1968, four of which are listed in private collections. This version is by far the most attractive of the group because of its palette and its overall abstraction. The entry indicates it is one of 14 large-format depictions of the electric chair subject of his Death and Disaster paintings and the only one that divided the work into three discrete fields of color. "Its polychromatic, high-key tonality without doubt renders it the most compositionally complex of all Electric Chairs," the entry noted.

"Unlike any of Warhol's other Death and Disaster pantings, the present work positions us within the center of its horror, implicating us as both spectators and potential victims. Meanwhile, Warhol's doubling of the silkscreen within the same image creates a distinct off-register effect that haunts the picture, a heightened contouring that the artist attempted with only four of the fourteen Big Electric Chairs....The virulent chromatic brutality impels the viewers to realized their own moral distance from the image, emphasizing and unveiling our desensitization to media violence."

It has an estimate of $18,000,000 to $25,000,000. It sold for $30,437,000.

Lot 23, "Six Self-Portraits," by Andy Warhol, acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas, 22 inches square each, 1986

Lot 23 are six self-portraits by Warhol, all acrylic and silkscreen inks on canvas and 22 inches square each and each is colored differently. They were painted in 1986. The catalogue entry maintains that these paintings "are universally acknowledged as Warhol's last great artistic gesture in which he re-attains the artistic high ground of his seminal works from the 1960s." the artist shows himself wearing a "fright wig."

The lot has an estimate of $25,000,000 to $35,000,000. It sold for $30,125,000.

Lot 31, "12 Mona Lisas (Reversal Series)," by Andy Warhol, acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas, 80 inches square, 1980

Lot 31, "12 Mona Lisas (Reversal Series)," is a 80-inch square acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas by Warhol that he painted in 1980. It has been widely exhibited included at the 1984 Venice Biennale. It has an estimate of $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. It sold for $11,365,000.

Lot 70, "Portrait of Jean-Michel as David," by Andy Warhol, acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas, 90 by 69 1/2 inches, 1984

Lot 70, "Portrait of Jean-Michel as David," is a 1984 portrait of Jean-Michel Basquiat by Andy Warhol. The acrylic and silkscreen inks on canvas measures 90 by 69 1/2 inches and it depicts the artist, who acquired the work directly from Warhol, in two instances, each with three arms and in front of fragmented boxes. It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $3,189,000.

Lot 21, "Self-Portrait," by Andy Warhol, acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas, 22 inches square, 1966-7

Lot 21 is a red self-portrait by Warhol. An acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas, it is 22 inches square and was painted in 1966-7. It has an estimate of $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It sold for $4,645,000.

Lot 39, "OceanPark # 20," by Richard Diebenkorn, oil on canvas, 93 by 80 inches, 1969

Lot 39, "Ocean Park #20," is a large oil on canvas by Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993). It measures 93 by 80 inches and was painted in 1969. It has an estimate of $9,000,000 to $12,000,000. It sold for $10,245,000.

Lot 29, "Untitled," by Mark Rothko, oil on canvas 33 by 30 inches, 1950

Lot 29 is an untitled oil on canvas by Mark Rothko (1903-1970). It measures 33 by 30 inches and it was painted in 1950. It has an estimate of $8,000,000 to $12,000,000. It sold for $12,205,000.

Lot 24, "Untitled," by Mark Rothko, oil on paper laid on canvas, 52 by 40 1/2 inches, 1969

An excellent dark, untitled, abstraction by Mark Rothko (1903-1970) is an oil on paper laid down on canvas in 1969. It measures 52 by 40 1/2 inches. It has an estimate of $6,000,000 to $8,000,000. It was passed at $5,000,000.

Lot 49, "Intersection," by Franz Kline, oil on canvas, 30 by 38 inches, 1955

Lot 49 is a good abstraction by Franz Kline (1910-1962) entitled "Intersection." An oil on canvas, it measures 30 by 38 inches and was painted in 1955. It has an estimate of $3,000,000 to $4,000,000. It was passed at $2,100,000.

Lot 53, "Untitled XIII," by Willem de Kooning, oil on canvas, 70 by 80 inches, 1983

Lot 53 is a superb abstraction by Willem de Kooning entitled "Untitled XIII." An oil on canvas, it measures 70 by 80 inches and was painted in 1983. See The City Review article on the artist. The lot has an estimate of $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It sold for $4,533,000.

Lot 46, "Montauk III," by Willem de Kooning, oil on two joined sheets of paper mounted on canvas, 72 1/2 by 70 1/2 inches, 1969

Lot 46 is a large abstraction by Willem de Kooning that is an oil on two joined sheets of paper mounted on canvas It is entitled "Montauk III" and measures 72 1/2 by 70 1/2 inches and was painted in 1969. It was included in the 2011-2012 de Kooning exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In November 2010, it sold at Sotheby's New York for $9,938,500, well over its high estimate of $5-7 million. It has an estimate of $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. It sold for $10,245,000.

Lot 27 is a large, untitled abstraction by Willem de Kooning (1904-1997). An oil on canvas, it measures 69 by 79 inches and was painted 1975-1977. It has an estimate of $18,000,000 to $25,000,000. It was passed at $16,500,000.

Lot 25, "Large Torso," by Willem de Kooning, bronze, 35 by 31 by 24 inches, numbered 1 of 7, 1974

Lot 25, "Large Torso," is a 1974 bronze sculpture by Willem de Kooning (1904-1997). It measures 35 by 31 by 24 inches and is numbered 1 of 7. It has been very widely exhibited and published and was included in the 2011-12 de Kooning Exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It has an estimate of $3,500,000 to $5,500,000. It failed to sell and was passed at $2,800,000.

Lot 26, "La Marseillaise," by Yves Klein, IKB pigment and resin on paper laid down on canvas, 25 by 20 1/4 inches, 1960

Lot 26, "La Marseillaise," is an IKB pigment and resin on paper laid down on canvas in 1960 by Yves Klein (1928-1962). It measures 25 by 20 1/4 inches. It has an estimate of $6,000,000 to $8,000,000. It was passed at $4,750,000.

Lot 37, "Rélief éponge bleu (RE 51)," by Yves Klein IKB pigment and synthetic resin, natural sponges and pepples on board, 40 3/4 by 40 3/8 by 3 1/2 inches, 1959

Lot 37 is "Rélief éponge bleu (RE 51)" by Yves Klein, IKB pigment and synthetic resin, natural sponges and pebbles on board. It measures 40 3/4 by 40 3/8 by 3 1/2 inches and was created in 1959. It was first owned by Lucio Fontana, the artist. It has an estimate of $15,000,000 to $20,000,000. It sold for $16,965,000.

Lot 30, "Untitled," by Robert Ryman, New Masters vinyl polymer paint on aluminum, 18 inches square, 1964

Lot 30 is a strong untitled work by Robert Ryman (b. 1930). It is a New Masters vinyl polymer paint on aluminum that is 18 inches square and was created in 1964. It has an estimate of $1,800,000 to $2,500,000. It sold for $2,853,000.

Lot 52, "Landscape with Red Sky," by Roy Lichtenstein, oil and magna on canvas, 108 by 77 inches, 1985

Lot 52 is a large oil and magna on canvas by Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997). Entitled "Landscape with Red Sky," it was once owned by Meshulam Riklis and measures 108 by 77 inches. It was painted in 1985. It has a estimat of $4,500,000 to $6,500,000. It sold for $6,549,000.

Lot 22, "Untitled (Dancing Dogs)," by Keith Haring, sumi ink and acrylic on paper mounted on canvas, 108 by 191 1/2 inches, 1981

One of the largest works in the auction is Lot 22, "Untitled (Dancing Dogs)," by Keith Haring (1958-1990). A sumi ink and acrylic on paper mounted on canvas, it measures 108 by 191 1/2 inches and was executed in 1981. It was included in the retrospective on the artist held at the Whitney Musem of American Art in 1997. It has an estimate of $3,000,000 to $4,000,000. It sold for $4,589,000.

Lot 42, "Combine," by Robert Rauschenberg, oil, charcoal, newspaper, canvas and fabric collage, lightbulb and two glass radiometers on nailed wooden structure, 25 1/4 by 15 1/2 by 3 3/4 inches, circa 1954

Lot 42is a small "combine" by Robert Rauschenberg (1928-2008) that was made circa 1954. The oil, charcoal, newspaper, canvas and fabric collage, lightbulb and two glass radiometers nailed on wooden structure measures 25 1/4 by 15 1/2 by 3 3/4 inches It is being sold to benefit the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation and was acquired from the artist in 1964. It ha an estimate of $5,000,000 to $7,000,000. It sold for $5,785,000.

Lot 45, "Black and White Painting," by Jackson Pollack, oil on canvas, 58 by 18 inches, circa 1952

Lot 45 is a Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) oil on canvas that is entitled "Black and White Painting." It measures 58 by 18 inches and was painted circa 1952. It has an estimate of $8,000,000 to $12,000,000. It sold for $8,565,000.

Lot 59, "Untitled," bySigmar Polke, mixed media on fabric, 88 1/2 by 123 1/2 inches, 1983-2006

Lot 59 is a striking, large, mixed media on fabric by Sigmar Polke (1941-2012) who is currently the subject of a large retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It meaures 88 1/2 by 123 1/2 inches and was created between 1983 and 2006. It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $4,197,000.

Lot 75, "Untitled," by Donald Judd, Douglas fir plywood painted red with aluminum shaft, foreground, 19 1/2 by 45 by 30 1/2 inches, 1991

Lot 75 is a very good, untitled sculpture by Donald Judd (1928-1994) of plywood painted red with an embedded aluminum shaft on top, a mix that the artist should have employed more often It measures 19 1/2 by 45 by 30 1/2 inches and was created in 1991. It has a estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It was passed at $350,000.

Lot 55, "Printemps Hivernal," by Chu Teh-Chun, oil on canvas, 76 3/4 by 51 1/4 inches, 1986-7

Lot 55 is a handsome oil on canvas by Chu Teh-Chun (1920-2014) entitled "Printemps Hivernal." It measures 76 3/4 by 51 1/4 inches and was painted in 1986-7. The artist moved to France in 1955 and in 1999 became the first Chinese member of the Academie des Beaux-Arts. It has an estimate of $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It sold for $4,421,000.

Lot 40, "Blau," by Gerhard Richter, oil on canvas, 118 1/8 inches square, 1988

Lot 40 is an 118 1/8-inch square oil on canvas by Gerhard Richter (b. 1932). It is entitled "Blau" and was painted in 1988. It has an estimate of $25,000,000 to $35,000,000. It sold for $28,725,000.