In anticipation of a new era for the art world Christie’s will offer major auctions of “20th Century Art” and “21st Century Art” in New York in May. These sales on May 11 (1880-1980) and May 13 (1980’s into the future) will replace the Impressionist and Modern and Post-War and Contemporary sales. According to Christie’s the new format will underscore the radical nature of the Modern Masters and their lasting impact on the art being created today, it will emphasise the electricity and relevance of the art created over the past 40 years, and make plenty room for the new – both physical and digital. (Last week the auction house sold a digital non fungible token art collage by Beeple for a record $69 million).
Alexander Rotter, chairman of 20th & 21st Century Art remarked: ‘This time of upheaval has had an enormous impact on the art world. It has impacted the nature of art that is being created today and has altered our understanding on the art of the past. This new format allows us to bring our new found perspective forward to the market in an exciting and dynamic way. We are looking forward to what the future has to bring.’
By removing art from the context of its assigned movements, Christie’s seeks to make new stylistic connections, approach topics such as race and revolution from a new lens, and create space to amplify voices that have been historically overlooked and undervalued. The sales will create a new platform to elevate masterworks and discover new and extraordinary works.
Monet’s Waterloo Bridge, effet de brouillard, (estimate in the region of $35 million, will be joined by Andy Warhol’s Nine Multicolored Marilyns (Reversal Series), 1979-1986 (estimate in the region of $7 million) in the 20th Century Evening Sale. One of the most influential sculptural works of the last 35 years Martin Kippenberger’s Martin, ab in die Ecke und schäm Dich (Martin, Into the Corner, You Should Be Ashamed of Yourself) from 1989 is a highlight of the May 13 sale. It is estimated at $10-15 million.
