Christie’s New York, a venerable institution in the art world, launched Fall Marquee Week with its much-anticipated 21st Century Evening Sale at the iconic Rockefeller Center saleroom on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
The evening was nothing short of spectacular, with the total sales reaching an impressive $107,451,800. Notably, a remarkable 95% of the lots found buyers, and 95% of the hammer prices exceeded their conservative low estimates.
Global Enthusiasm and Millennial Interest
This 41-lot auction witnessed an enthusiastic global participation, with 66% of bidders hailing from the Americas, 18% from the EMEA region, and 16% from APAC. Remarkably, more than 10% of the buyers belonged to the millennial generation, reflecting the enduring appeal of contemporary art among younger collectors.
Christie’s lived up to its reputation by setting five new records during the event. These milestones included Jenna Gribbon’s “Regarding Me Regarding You and Me,” which fetched an impressive $478,800; Jia Aili’s “Combustion,” soaring to $4,769,000; Jadé Fadojutimi’s “A Thistle Throb,” achieving a remarkable $1,683,500; Ilana Savdie’s “A High-pitched Complicity,” sold for $201,600, and not to be overlooked, Lalanne’s “Mouton de laine” garnered a whopping $1,502,000,a record high for a single Lalanne Mouton.
CY Twombly’s Untitled (Bacchus 1st Version II) Takes the Spotlight
The crowning jewel of the evening was none other than CY Twombly’s “Untitled (Bacchus 1st Version II),” a masterpiece that fetched an astounding $19,960,000. This sale reaffirmed the enduring allure of Twombly’s work and its significance in the world of contemporary art.
The second-highest price of the evening was achieved by Basquiat’s “Untitled,” which commanded an impressive $11,910,000. The enduring appeal of Basquiat’s work continues to captivate collectors and art enthusiasts worldwide.
Empowering Female Artists
Female artists took centre stage, representing a quarter of the sale. This inclusivity in the art world was underscored by the remarkable performance of Stefanie Heinze’s “Third Date,” which sold for $239,400, surpassing its conservative low estimate of $60,000. Another noteworthy achievement was Issy Wood’s “Fanta Car Interior,” which fetched $277,200 against a low estimate of $80,000.
Artists of colour also made a significant impact on the auction, with impressive results. Robert Colescott’s “Eat dem Taters” achieved a remarkable $3,922,000, while Matthew Wong’s “Night 1” realized $4,164,000. Reggie Burrows Hodges matched a personal record with “Intersection of Color: Loge,” which sold for $730,800.
Words of Appreciation from Kat Widing
Kat Widing, Head of the 21st Century Evening Sale at Christie’s, expressed her delight, saying, “It is such an honour to kick off this season’s Marquee Week with the 21st Century Evening Sale. Since we began the 20/21 sale format two years ago, we have used this dynamic sale platform of the 21st Century Evening Sale to showcase best-in-class artwork by a diverse group of contemporary artists. Tonight, we were thrilled to see fantastic results for all ten lots by female artists, with records for Ilana Savdie, Jenna Gribbon, and Jadé Fadojutimi, as well as for many artists of colour, including Reggie Burrows Hodges.”
In a world where the arts continue to flourish and evolve, Christie’s New York reaffirms its commitment to championing diverse voices and groundbreaking artistic talent. The success of the 21st Century Evening Sale is a testament to the enduring allure of contemporary art and the ongoing quest for artistic excellence.
Images: Christie’s
