Christie's Presents Series of Two Live Sales of Post-War and Contemporary Art
NEW YORK – This March, Christie’s is pleased to announce two live auctions of Post-War and Contemporary Art taking place at Rockefeller Center in New York. On Wednesday, March 9, Contemporary Edition will offer a selection of works from leaders in printmaking, including David Hockney, Andy Warhol, and Keith Haring, as well as coveted contemporary artists including Carmen Herrera and Damien Hirst. On Thursday, March 10, Christie’s will present Post-War to Present. which will be the highest estimated live sale to take place in New York thus far in 2022. Post-War to Present features a fantastic group of post-war and contemporary artworks by 20th and 21st century masters including Ed Ruscha, Jeff Koons, Helen Frankenthaler, Felix Gonzales-Torres, and Tauba Auerbach. These back-to-back sales will offer collectors an opportunity to acquire exquisite artworks by a range of leading names spanning from the post-war era through today.
CONTEMPORARY EDITION | MARCH 9
Among the sale highlights are groupings of three lithographs by prominent female artists Joan Mitchell, Flowers I-III (estimate $25,000-35,000), and Carmen Herrera, Verde y Amarillo (estimate $15,000-25,000). Also among the highlights is Mel Bochner’s Kvetch Kvetch Kvetch (estimate $10,000-15,000). With more than twenty works with estimates starting at or below $1,000, the sale features something for those just beginning their collecting journey and seasoned collectors alike.
POST-WAR TO PRESENT | 10 MARCH, 10AM EST
The highly anticipated Post-War to Present sale will feature a number of work from a diverse group of leading names from the 20th and 21st century. The top lot of the sale is Ed Ruscha’s Kids (estimate: $1,800,000 – 2,500,000). Featuring the artist’s signature Boy Scout Utility Modern font, this painting is a superb example from Ruscha’s City Lights series. Another leading highlight is Jeff Koons’ Travel Bar (estimate: $900,000 – 1,200,000). From his Luxury and Degradation series, this fantastic sculpture references commercialization, commodification, and indulgence. Both playing with semiotics and meaning, these two leading highlights stand among the finest representations of two of the most important living artists.
A number of female artists will be highlighted in the sale, ranging from storied Abstract Expressionists like Elaine de Kooning to contemporary meteoric market stars including Emily Mae Smith and Hilary Pecis.
The sale also includes lots from several important private collections being sold to benefit charitable initiatives. Property sold to benefit the Cleveland Clinic includes works by Shara Hughes, Takashi Murakami and El Anatsui; artwork by Bronx-native artist Marcus Jansen will be sold to benefit the Bronx Museum of the Arts, in the first of a series of partnerships on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary.
