The atmosphere ahead of the November auctions in New York was jittery, following the US presidential elections. But despite the uncertainty, a deep pool of international buyers and high quality lots sourced by the major auction houses was enough to elicit several new auction records over the course of the week.
Here are the 10 top selling lots that set new artist records.
Claude Monet, Meule (1891). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.
1. Claude Monet’s Meule (1891)
The Impressionist canvas sold for $81.4 million at Christie’s New York on November 16, 2016.
Willem de Kooning, Untitled XXV (1977). Courtesy Christie’s.
2. Willem de Kooning’s Untitled XXV (1977)
It has been a decade since it was crowned the most expensive post-war canvas ever sold at auction, at Christie’s in November 2006. Now, the much-revered Abstract Expressionist painting sold for $66.3 million at Christie’s New York on November 15, 2016.
Jean Dubuffet, Les Grandes Artères (1961). Courtesy Christie’s.
3. Jean Dubuffet’s Les Grandes Artères (1961)
Outsider art has been a growing presence at auction these days. The canvas, from the artist’s Paris Circus series, sold for $24.8 million at Christie’s New York on November 15, 2016.
Wassily Kandinsky, Rigide et courbé (1935). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.
4. Wassily Kandinsky’s Rigide et courbe (1934)
Leading up to the sale, Christie’s referred to the canvas as “The most important Paris period painting by Kandinsky to appear on the market.” Buyers must have been listening, as the 1935 painting sold for $23.3 million at Christie’s New York on November 16, 2016.
John Currin, Nice ‘n Easy (1999). Courtesy Christie’s.
5. John Currin’s Nice ’n Easy (1999)
The racy painting is classic Currin, and so it’s no surprise that the canvas sold for $12 million at Christie’s New York on November 15, 2016. The mystery consignor may be a very happy Peter Brant, as artnet News discovered before the sale.
David Hockney, Woldgate Woods, 24, 25 and 26 October, 2006 (2006). Courtesy Sotheby’s.
6. David Hockney’s Woldgate Woods, 24, 25, and 26 October 2006 (2006)
The 79-year-old British artist is still breaking records; this canvas sold for $11.7 million at Sotheby’s New York on November 17, 2016.
Njideka Akunyili Crosby Drown (2012). Courtesy: Sotheby’s.
7. Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s Drown (2012)
In September, Crosby’s work sold at Sotheby’s $93,750, rocketing past its estimate of $18-25,000. On November 17, the rising Nigeria-born auction star’s 2011 canvas broke $1 million at Sotheby’s New York, with six bidders jostling for the work, according to the New York Times.
Carmen Herrera Cerulean (1965). Photo: Phillips, New York.
8. Carmen Herrera’s Cerulean (1965)
This was a big hit for the Cuban-born artist; it sold for $970,000 at Phillips 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale on November 16, 2016.
Mira Schendel Sem titulo (XII) (1985-86). Photo: courtesy Phillips.
9. Mira Schendel’s Untitled (1985)
This was the second Latin American female artist to break an auction record this week; the canvas sold for $970,000 at Phillips 20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale on November 16, 2016.
Harold Ancart Untitled (2014). Photo: courtesy Christie’s.
10. Harold Ancart’s Untitled (2014)
The emerging Belgian artist works across media; this triptych sold for $751,500 at Christie’s New York on November 16, 2016.