"Latin American Modern & Contemporary Art auctions at Sotheby's New York May 24, 2016

By Carter B. Horsley

The Spring 2016 Latin American Art auctions at Sotheby's New York has good "contemporary" works by Orozco, Otero, Darie, and Torres-Garcia and excellent sculptures by Ferrari, Gego, de Amaral, and Darie and the "modern" section has very fine works by Tamayo, Matta, Lam, Varo, Carrington, and Cardenas.

The Contemporary auction has 31 lots in the first session and 37 lots in the second session.

The Modern auction has 33 lots in the first session and 71 in the second session. The two auctions, each with separate catalogues, sold a total of $16,266,875 with 57 of the 170 offered lots passing.

The Modern section

Lot 39 is an excellent oil on canvas with marble dust by Rufino Tamayo (1899-1991) that is entitled "The Voyeur." It measures 37 7/8 by 51 1/8 inches and was painted in 1988. It has been widely exhibited and published. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $970,000 including the buyer's premium as do all results in this article.

Lot 45, "El Juglar," by Tamayo, is an impressive oil and sand on canvas. It measures 52 by 39 inches. It has an estimate of $700,000 to $900,000. It sold for $850,000.

Lot 51, "Hombre," by Rufino Tamayo, oil and sand on canvas, 29 1/8 by 35 1/2 inches, 1961

Lot 51 is a very good oil and sand on canvas by Tamayo that is entitled "Hombre." It measures 29 1/8 by 35 1/2 inches and was painted in 1961. It has been widely published and exhibited. It has an estimate of $350,000 to $450,000. It sold for $538,000.

Lot 160, "Expression Perdue," by Matta, oil on canvas, 78 by 72 1/2 inches, 1985

Lot 160 is an excellent and large oil on canvas by Matta (1911-2002) that is entitled "Expression Perdue," It measures 78 by 72 1/2 inches and was painted in 1985. It has a modest estimate of $180,000 $250,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 164, "Cuba Abierto," by Matta, oil on canvas laid down on wood with metal hinges, each panel 22 5/8 square, 1977

Lot 164 is a 6-panel work by Matta entitled "Cuba Abierto." Each oil on canvas panel is laid down on woork and measures 22 5/8 inches square. The work was created in 1977. The lot has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $100,000.

Lot 52, "Out to Alisma," by Matta, oil on canvas, 49 1/2 by 59 1/4 inches, 1948

Lot 52 is a very strong and stunning oil on canvas by Matta entitled "Out to Alisma." It measures 49 1/2 by 59 1/4 inches. It was painted in 1948.

Detail of Lot 52

It has a modest estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $$442,000.

Lot 179, "Vus," by Matta, mixed media on paper laid down on canvas, 35 by 30 5/8 inches, 1997

Lot 179 is a good mixed media work entitled "Vus" by Matta that is on paper laid down on canvas. It measures 35 by 30 5/8 inches. It was created in 1997. It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for $37,500.

Lot 53, "Untitled," by Wilfredo Lam, oil on canvas, 30 3/4 by 19 5/8 inches, 1965

Lot 53 is an excellent untitled oil on canvas by Wilfredo Lam (1902-1982). It measures 30 3/4 by 19 5/8 inches. It was painted in 1965. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $250,000.

Lot 40, "Recinto," by Fernando de Szyszlo, acrylic on canvas, 59 inches square, 1990

Lot 40 is a bold abstract acrylic on canvas by Fernando de Szyszlo (b. 1925) titled "Recinto" that measures 59 inches square and was painted in 1990. It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It sold for $75,000.

Lot 157, "Ritual Table," by Fernando Szyszlo, acrylic on canvas, 74 by 54 inches, 1986

Another Szyszlo is Lot 157 is a large acrylic on canvas that shows a bull and is entitled "Ritual Table." It measures 74 by 54 inches. It was painted in 1986. It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It sold for $106,250.

Lot 123, "Mujer perseguida por conejo," by Francisco Toledo, watercolor and gouache on paper, 16 1/2 by 24 3/4 inches

Lot 123 is an excellent watercolor and gouache on paper by Francisco Toledo (b. 1940) entitled "Mujer perseguida por conegjo." It measures 16 1/2 by 24 3/4 inches, It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for $50,000.

Lot 42, "Le Ble (Corn Festival)," by Alice Rahon, oil on canvas, 45 1/2 by 35 inches, 1954

Lot 42 is a good oil on canvas by Alice Rahon (1916-1987) entitled "Le Ble (Corn Festival)." It measures 45 1/2 by 35 inches and was painted in 1954. It has a modest estimate of $40,000 to $50,000. It sold for $43,750.

Lot 44, "Astro Errante (The Wandering Star)," by Remedios Varo, oil on masonite, 30 by 16 inches, 1961

Lot 44 is a fine oil on masonite by Remedios Varo (1908-1963) entitled "Astro Errante (The Wandering Star)." It measures 30 by 16 inches and was painted in 1961. It has an estimate of $900,000 to $1,200,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 43, "Untitled (Ritual)," by Leonora Carrington, oil on canvas, 32 by 13 inches, 1964

Lot 43 is a very fine oil on canvas by Leonora Carrington (1917-2011) entitled "untitled (Ritual)." It measures 32 by 13 inches and was painted in 1964. It has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 156, "Girl with Feather," by Fernando Botero, oil and tempera on cardboard, 47 by 37 3/4 inches, 1960

Lot 156 is a very good oil and tempera on cardboard of a "Girl with Feather" by Fernando Botero (b. 1932). It measures 47 by 47 3/4 inches and was painted in 1960. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $162,500.

Lot 50, "Mrs. Rubens," by Fernando Botero, oil on canvas, 72 by 70 inches, 1964

A more amusing Botero is Lot 50, "Mrs. Rubens," an oil on canvas that measures 72 by 70 inches and was painted in 1970. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 33, "Plantacion con dos figuras," by Armando Morales, oil on canvas, 59 by 78 3/4 inches, 2010

Lot 33 is an excellent, large oil on canvas by Armando Morales entitled "Plantacion con dos figuras." It measures 59 by 78 3/4 inches and was painted in 2010. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 153, "Narcissus," by Agustin Cardenas, bronze, 22 inches high, 1983

Lot 153 is a very beautiful bronze by Agustin Cardenas (1927-2001) entitled "Narcissus." It is 22 inches high and was created in 1983. It has an estimate of $25,000 to $35,000. It sold for $32,500.

Lot 42, "Pale Surprises," by Claudio Bravo, oil on canvas, 78 3/4 by 59 inches, 2003

Lot 42 is a fine oil on canvas by Claudio Bravo (1936-2011) entitled "Pale Surprises." It measures 78 3/4 by 59 inches and was painted in 2003. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 57, "Figuras corn bandolim, coruja a gatos," by Emiliano di Calvalcanti, oil and graphite on canvas, 57 3/4 by 38 1/2 inches, circa 1950

Lot 57 is a very good oil and graphite on canvas by Emiliano di Calvalcanti (1897-1967). Entitled "Figura corn bandolim, coruja a gatos," it measures 57 3/4 by 38 1/2 inches. It was painted circa 1950. It has an estimate of $350,000 to $450,000. It sold for $466,000.

Lot 63, "The Valley of Oaxaca," by Jose Maria Velasco," oil on canvas, 18 1/8 by 25 1/8 inches, 1894

Lot 63 is a bright and lovely landscape by Jose Maria Velasco (1840-1912) entitled "The Valley of Oaxaca." An oil on canvas, it measures 18 1/8 by 25 1/8 inches and was painted in 1894. It has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $346,000.

The Contemporary Section

Lot 31, "Cesta Lunar 69," by Olga de Amaral, gesso, acrylic and gold leaf on linen, 31 by 59 inches, 2000

The Latin American Contemporary Art auction is highlighted by a great work by OIga de Amaral and important works by Joaquin Torres-Garcia and Alejandro Otero.

Lot 31, "Cesta Lunar 69," is a gesso, acrylic and gold leaf on linen by Olga de Amaral (b. 1931) that measures 31 by 59 inches. It was created in 2000. It has a modest estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It sold for $112,500.

Lot 20, "Constructivo doble linea," by Joaquin Torres-Garcia, oil on canvas, 24 by 19 1/4 inches, 1932

Lot 20 is a fine oil on canvas by Joaquin Torres-Garcia (1874-1949) entitled "Constructivo doble linea." It measures 24 by 19 1/4 inches and was painted in 19132. It is property of Patricia Phelps de Disneros and is being sold to benefit the Latin American Initiatives of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $880,000.

Lot 19, "Forma en blanco y negro," by Joaquin Torres-Garcia, oil on wood with nails, 17 1/2 inches high, 1932

Another work by Torres-Garcia is Lot 19, "Forma en blanco y negro." It is an oil on wood with nails that is 17 1/2 inches high and was created in 1932. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $150,000.

Lot 8, "Lineas coloreadas sobre fonda blanco," by Alejandro Otero, oil on canvas, 25 1/4 by 20 1/8 inches, 1951

One of the auction's more striking works is Lot 8, "Lineas coloreadas sobre fonda blanco," an oil on canvas by Alejandro Otero (1921-1990). It measures 21 1/4 by 20 1/8 inches and was painted in 1951.

The catalogue entry provides the following commentary on the work by Juan Ledezma:

"Existentialism, as advanced in particular by Jean-Paul Sartre, provided Otero, Mateo Manaure and Luis Guevara Morena, among other Venezuelan artists, with the theoretical ammunition they required to organize a combative aesthetic platform. Calling themselves Los Disidentes, these artists denied entrenched ideas that constricted cultural progress. Organized in 1950, the group published a journal in which the existentialist notion of absolute freedom served to confront the notion of tradition. Pictorial abstraction lay at the center of this broad cultural project. Indeed, Lineas coloreadas sobre tondo blanco translates such ideas....the artist believed that in his series the support is not a static datum one could immediately perceive. To grasp it, viewers had to work through opposing values towards a harmonious solution. The spectator's gaze would therefore have to proceed outside the framework of a solid structure, similar to the manner in which individuals should act in the social field."

The lot has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $490,000.

Lot 28, "Sem titulo," by Ibere Camargo, oil on canvas, 51 by 88 1/2 inches, 1977

Lot 28 is a richly dark and very strong untitled oil on canvas by Ibere Camargo (1914-1994) that measures 51 by 88 1/2 inches. It was painted in 1977. It has an estimate of $350,000 to $450,000. It sold for $394,000.

Lot 101, "Untitled (Estructura transformable)," by Sandu Darie, painted wood assemblage, 40 by 58 inches, 1950

Lot 101 is a impressive and colorful painted wood assemblage by Sandu Darie (1908-1991). It measures 40 by 58 inches and was created in 1950. It has an estimate of $70,000 to $90,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 10, "Untitled," by Sandu Darie, acrylic on wood construction, 44 by 58 inches, circa 1955

Another very fine Darie wood construction is Lot 10 that was created circa 1955. It measures 44 by 58 inches and a marvelous amalgam of Mondrian and Kandinsky aesthetics. It has an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. It sold for $52,000.

Lot 82, "Untitled," stainless steel sculpture, by Leon Ferrari, 12 inches high, 1981, numbered 17/20

Lot 82 is a superb stainless steel sculpture by Leon Ferrari (1920-2013) that is 12 inches high and was created in 1981. It is numbered 17.20. It has a modest estimate of $12,000 to $18,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 5, "Untitled," by Leon Ferrari, stainless steel, sculpture, 17 5/8 inches high, 1978

Another Ferrari sculpture is Lot 5, a 17 5/8 inches high. It was created in 1978 and is unique. It has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000. It sold for $60,000.

Lot 7, "Dibujo sin papel 10," by Gego, stainless steel wire and iron, 27 inches high, 1975

Lot 7, "Dibujo sin papel 10," is a stainless steel and iron wire sculpture by Gego (1912-1994). It is about 27 inches high and was created in 1975. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It failed to sell.