Art/Auctions: Contemporary Art Afternoon Auction at Christie's New York, May 18, 2017

Post-War and Contemporary Art Afternoon Auction

Christie's New York

1:30 PM, May 18, 2017

Sale 14189

Butterfield 832

Lot 832, "Mali'u," by Deborah Butterfield, bronze, 109 inches long, 2012

By Carter B. Horsley

The May 18, 2017 Contemporary Art Afternoon Auction at Christie's New York is highlighted by several fine works by Deborah Butterfield, Bruce Conner, Anselm Kiefer, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sterling Ruby, Mark Bradford and Njideka Akunyili Crosby.

Lot 832 is a very good large bronze of a horse by Deborah Butterfield (b. 1959). It is one of two such works in the auction. This one is 109 inches long and was made in 2012. It has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $367,500 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.

The sale total was $30,770,000.

Lot 749, "Annunciation," by Bruce Conner, printed and colored papers, decorative foil, screenpainted mirror fragments, velvet-wrapped buttons, metal trinkets and cellaphone on Masonite, 14 by 16 inches, 1961

The auction's best work is a small composition by Bruce Conner (1933-2008), the subject of a recent retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It had been on extended loan to the Princeton University Art Museum from 1973-2016. Entitled "Annunciation," it is made of printed and colored papers, decorative foil, screen-painted mirror fragments, velvet-wrapped buttons, metal trinkets and cellophane on Masonite. It measures 14 by 16 inches and was created in 1961.

The catalogue entry describes the artist as "one of the Beat Generation's most acclaimed and accomplished artists." It notes that the the work subverts some Biblical themes: "The Virgin Mary is represented as a pinup nurse, and an appearance is made by the sinewy tail of the snake in the Garden of Eden" adding that "the red cellophane becames visceral, as if it represents the blood of Christ." "Just as the angel Gabriel came with news of a pivotal event for the Virgin Mary, Annunciation informs us of a new era in American culture, and places itself at the crossroads of historical spirtuality and modern consumerism."

It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $93,750.

Lot 746, "Untitled (Half-Moon," by Jean-Michel Basquiat, acrylic and oil on wood, 90 1/4 inches high, 1985

Lot 746, "Untitled (Half-Moon)," is an acrylic and oil on wood that is 90 1/4 inches high and was painted in 1985 by Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988). It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It was withdrawn.

Lot 787, "Daffy Duck," by George Condo, acrylic on canvas, 120 inches high, 2009

Lot 787 is a large acrylic on canvas of "Daffy Duck" by George Condo (b. 1957). It is 120 inches high and was created in 2009. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 741, "Female Composition," by George Condo, oil pastel and acrylic on canvas, 60 by 52 inches, 2008

Another good Condo is Lot 741, "Female Composition," an oil pastel and acrylic on canvas that measures 60 by 52 inches and was painted in 2008. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $583,500.

Lot 712, "BC (3983)," by Sterling Ruby, paint, bleach, glue and fabric collage on wood, 91 1/4 by 93 1/4 inches, 2012

Lot 712 is a striking work by Sterling Ruby (b. 1972) entitled "BC (3983)." It is a paint, bleach, glue and fabric collage on wood what measures 91 1/4 by 93 1/4 inches. It was created in 2012. It has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $199,500.

Lot 825, Die Sieben HimmelsPalaste," by Anselm Kiefer, oil, emulsion, shellac, and soil on original photographs on board and artist's metal stand, book open, 39 by 60 by 3 1/2 inches, 2005

Lot 825 is an interesting work by Anselm Kiefer (b. 1945) entitled "Die Sieben HimmelsPalaste," an oil, shellac, and oil on original photographs on board and artist's metal stand. The open book measures 39 by 60 1/2 inches and the work was created in 2005. It has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $247,500.

Lot 750, "Making a Country I," by Mark Bradford, mixed media collage mounted on canvas, 81 1/8 by 114 inches, 2014

One of the auction's loveliest works is Lot 750, "Making a Country I," by Mark Bradford (b. 1961). A mixed media collage mounted on canvas, it measures 81 1/8 by 114 inches and was created in 2014. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It was withdrawn.

Lot 751, "Harmattan Haze," by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, acrylic, color pencil, charcoal and Xerox transfer on paper, 83 inches square, 2014

Lot 751 is an acrylic, color pencil, charcoal and Xeroz transfer on paper by Njideka Akunyili Crosby (b. 1983), a Nigerian artist. It measures 83 inches square and was created in 2014. It is entitled "Harmattan Haze." It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $1,207,500.

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See The City Review article on the Spring 2017 Contemporary Art evening auction at Sotheby's New York

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See The City Review article on the Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art Auction, Part I, Nov. 11, 1999

See The City Review article on Part Two of the Sotheby's auction November 11, 1999 of Impressionist & Modern Art

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See The City Review article on the morning auction Nov. 9, 1999 of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art at Christie's

See The City Review article on the afternoon auction Nov. 9, 1999 of Impressionist and Twentieth Century Works on Paper at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Christie's Nov. 9, 1999 evening auction of Twentieth Century Art

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See The City Review analysis of Part 1 of the Sotheby's auction May 11, 1999 of Impressionist and Modern Art

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