Inspired by her Brazilian heritage and her country’s past, Adriana Varejão’s work re-imagines the tradition of Latin American geometric abstraction and puts a 21st-century twist on the Brazilian Concrete and Neo-Concrete movements. Varejão’s work rarely comes up at auction, so we are proud to include The Obscene (2004), a drawing from the artist’s “Saunas and Baths” series, in our current Art of the Americas sale on Artnet Auctions.

The “Saunas and Baths” series, which includes works on paper and canvas, explores geometry, light, and shade through images of tiled interiors in bathhouses, spas, and wellness centers. The Obscene (2004), rendered in pencil on paper, contains elements of Carl Andre’s minimalist brick sculptures, and the monochromatic scale of a Giorgio Morandi still life. The drawing is approachable in size and price when compared to Varejão’s works on canvas, making it a stellar addition for collectors new and old.

“Celacanto Provoca Maremoto” by Adriana Varejao, displayed at the Inhotim Centre for Contemporary Art in Brumadinho, Brazil. MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images.

Varejão is regarded as one of the most significant living Latin American artists. She has exhibited her work at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, the Tate Modern in London, and the Museu de Arte do Rio de Janeiro, among other notable institutions. Despite her dedicated global following, Varejão’s work does not hit the secondary market very often. When her work does come on the auction block, it often sells for higher than its mean estimate, signaling a high demand for her paintings and works on paper. The last time a work by Varejão appeared at auction, it sold for $125,000. Estimated at $15,000—20,000, the work in our sale is incredibly well-priced for a work on paper by the celebrated artist.

Opportunities to collect Varejão’s work are incredibly rare. Don’t miss your chance to add The Obscene (2004) to your collection—bidding is live through April 13 on Artnet Auctions.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to the specialist for this lot, Henri Neuendorf, with any questions.

(212) 497-9700 ext. 203

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