Affluent Page Magazine

Christie’s Auction house has recently broken another record with Jasper Johns’ Flag, which was estimated to sell at $15 million, and ultimately sold for slightly over $28.6 million. The sale, which took place on May 12, 2010, featured the collection of Michael Crichton. The winning bid went to Michael Altman.

Flag is not only an iconic Johns’ piece, but possibly one of the most famous pieces of modern art as well. Although the raw materials of Flag are primarily paper and canvas, its true origins are directly from the artist’s subconscious. The idea for Flag was the result of a dream Johns had, he has stated: “One night I dreamed that I painted a large American flag, and the next morning I got up and went out and bought the materials to begin it. And I did…” And a large American flag it is indeed. Measuring at 17 ½ x 26 ¾ inches, the bold piece doesn’t simply abstractly interpret the actual American flag; it mirrors it.

Along with Johns’ Flag the sale featured other pivotal contemporary artists such as Warhol, Ruscha, Lichtenstein and Rauschenberg.

[Christie's]

Christie’s Latin American art sale, which takes place on May 26^th and 27^th, will be auctioning off a Fernando Botero sculpture estimated at $1.2 million dollars. The sale is also loaded with influential and renowned Latin American artists including but not limited to Frida Kahlo, Joaquín Torres-García, Gunther Gerzso and José María Velasco. Featuring over 300 pieces, the sale is not to be missed by art collectors.

Fernando Botero’s sculpture Woman on a Horse has been estimated to sell anywhere between $800,000 and $1,200,000. The bronze piece, which was made in 2006 is a monumental sculpture made by the Columbian artist. Standing at about nine feet, the whimsical work portrays a naked woman riding a horse, while playing with realistic scale and measurement. A pivotal piece of contemporary art, Botero’s sculpture, which was featured at the Marlborough Gallery, is now available exculsively at Christie’s.

Another significant piece that will be auctioned off comes from Frida Kahlo. For the first time since it’s exhibit in 1938, (the same year it was created) at the Julien Levy Gallery, Khalo’s Survivor is available on the market. The estimated price for this gem is anywhere between $100,000 and $150,000. Frida Kahlo is celebrated as an influential female artist and has recently had retrospectives shown at world renowned art establishments such as London Tate’s Gallery, Minneapolis’ Walker Art Center and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Because the majority of Kahlo’s works are in Mexico and cannot legally be exported, the tiny painting encompassed by a decadent frame, is a true rarity.

In addition to these groundbreaking works from Kahlo and Botero, many high quality pieces of fine art will be available at Christie’s Latin American art sale. The evening sale will be on May 26^th and the day sale on the 27^th. Select viewings will be available at Christie’s Rockefeller Center Galleries in New York from May 22^nd until the 26^th.

[Christie's]

Tuesday, May 11th Christie’s New York will be having an evening sale of Post-War and Contemporary Art. Featuring iconic works by Andy Warhol, Yves Klein, Roy Lichtenstein and Christopher Wool, the auction includes pieces that are estimated to sell for over 14 million dollars.

Leading the sale will be Yves Klein’s ANT 93, Le Buffle (1960-1961). Not only is it an extraordinarily significant piece in contemporary art history, but this will be its debut on the auction market; its estimated rate is $8 million to $12 million. Painted in the widely recognized International Klein Blue hue, ANT 93, Le Buffle comes from the highly acclaimed Anthropométrie series. Although the stunning blue shade against the white canvas is the eye catching and striking aspect of the piece, it is Klein’s technique which is the pivotally fascinating element. Rather than using formal painting tools such as brushes or sponges, the abstract shapes and textures that emerge in ANT 93, Le Buffle were created solely by the naked female form. Having paint-covered women act as his paintbrush, thrashing and contorting their bodies on the canvas, Klein’s provocative creation is a theoretical representation of movement and human form.

Andy Warhol’s Silver Liz (1963) will also be auctioned. In Warhol’s signature pop-art style, the portrait of the iconic Elizabeth Taylor is estimated to sell between $10 million and $15 million. Also by Warhol, Christie’s will auction Holly Solomon (1966) and Self Portrait (1964). Other highlights of Christie’s auction include Roy Lichtenstein’s Figures with Sunset (1977) and Christopher Wool’s 108” tall Blue Fool (1990). With a total of 49 pieces being auctioned, Christie’s Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale is not to be missed by art collectors and connoisseurs. The event will take place at 6 pm on May 11th, 2010.

[Christie's]