ACROSS THE UNITED STATES and in London, auctions of post-war, modern and contemporary art were held at the end of February and early March. Records were set in Los Angeles, where an Alma Thomas painting was offered, and London where Henry Taylor and Njideka Akunyili Crosby achieved new benchmarks.
Auction values for Nigerian-born, Los Angeles-based Akunyili Crosby have increased exponentially in the past six months, with the artist’s record at auction rising from nearly $100,000 at the end of September 2016 to more than $3.1 million on March 7 when her 2012 mixed-media painting “The Beautyful Ones” sold for a record-breaking $3.1 million (including fees) at Christie’s London.
Several paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat sold in the millions at Christie’s and Sotheby’s in London. Notably, “Untitled (One Eyed Man or Xerox Face),” a 1982 work described as “the top tier” of the artist’s cycle of full-length male figures, sold for more than $14.5 million (including fees) at Sotheby’s London on March 8.
READ MORE about Christie’s decision to close secondary Kensington showroom and scale back Amsterdam operation. The auction house is also cancelling June sale in London.
Also in London, El Anatsui, Yinka Shonibare, and Rashid Johnson were among the artists who donated works to benefit the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, which is set to open later this year.
There were a number of other lots by important artists at auctions in New York and Washington, D.C., where a large painting by Sam Gilliam topped sales at Weschler’s on March 3. At Christie’s New York compelling works by David Hammons and Robert Colescott hovered near the low estimates.
The following lots represent artist records and a selection of other works of interest by black artists offered at auction recently, by location, and in descending order by a wide range of prices realized.
LONDON
Lot 3: NJIDEKA AKUNYILI CROSBY, “The Beautyful Ones,” 2012 (acrylic, pastel, colour pencil and Xerox transfer on paper). | Estimate $488,800-$733,200. Sold for $3,075,774 (including fees). RECORD
Njideka Akunyili Crosby, “The Beautyful Ones,” 2012
Sold for $3,075,774 (including fees) on March 7, 2017, at Christie’s London
Lot 197: EL ANATSUI, “Warrior,” 2015 (aluminium and copper wire). | Estimate $487,600-$731,400. Sold for $883,775 (including fees)
El Anatsui, “Warrior,” 2015
Sold for $883,775 (including fees) on March 8, 2017, at Christie’s London
VIEW CATALOG of works auctioned to benefit Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
Lot 38: HENRY TAYLOR, “Terri Philips,” 2011 (acrylic and collage on canvas). | Estimate $48,880-$73,320. Sold for $182,078 (including fees). RECORD
Henry Taylor, “Terri Philips,” 2011
Sold for $182,078 (including fees) on March 7, 2017, at Christie’s London
Lot 198: RASHID JOHNSON, “Falling Man,” 2016 (mirror, ceramic tile, spray enamel, black soap and wax on wood). | Estimate $73,140-$97,520. Sold for $167,003 (including fees).
Rashid Johnson, “Falling Man,” 2016
Sold for $167,003 (including fees) on March 8, 2017, at Christie’s London
VIEW CATALOG of works auctioned to benefit Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
Lot 195: YINKA SHONIBARE MBE, “Boy Balancing Knowledge II,” 2016 (fibreglass mannequin, Dutch wax printed cotton textile, books, globe, leather and steel baseplate). | Estimate $60,950-$85,330. Sold for $167,003 (including fees)
Yinka Shonibare MBE, “Boy Balancing Knowledge II,” 2016
Sold for $167,003 (including fees) on March 8, 2017, at Christie’s London
VIEW CATALOG of works auctioned to benefit Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
Lot 224: TONY LEWIS, “Ore Ero O,” 2014 (graphite on paper). | Estimate Approx. $ 31,031-$43,443. Sold for approx. $40,340 (including fees)
Tony Lewis, “Ore Ero O,” 2014
Sold for approx. $40,340 (including fees) on March 10, 2017, at Phillips London
Lot 18: LYNETTE YIADOM-BOAKYE, “Cemetary,” 2005 (oil on linen). | Estimate $21,978-$26,862. Sold for $45,600 (including fees).
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, “Cemetary,” 2005
Sold for $45,600 (including fees) on March 10, 2017, at Christie’s London
LOS ANGELES
Lot 323: ALMA THOMAS, “Spring Flowers in Washington D.C.,” 1969 (oil on canvas). | Estimate $125,000-$175,000. Sold for $387,500 (including fees). RECORD
Alma Thomas, “Spring Flowers in Washington D.C.,” 1969
Sold for $387,500 (including fees) on March 5, 2017, at Los Angeles Modern Auctions
READ MORE about the provenance of “Spring Flowers in Washington D.C. on Culture Type
NEW YORK
Lot 67: DAVID HAMMONS, “Coach,” circa 1974 (pigment on board). | Estimate $300,000-$500,000. Sold for $475,500 (including fees)
David Hammons, “Coach,” circa 1974
Sold for $475,500 (including fees) on March 3, 2017, at Christie’s New York
READ MORE about body prints by David Hammons at auction this season on Culture Type
Lot 77: RASHID JOHNSON, “Triangle,” 2010 (black soap, wax, vinyl, brass, cord, spraypaint, plant, shea butter and space rock on panel). | Estimate $80,000-$120,000. Sold for $112,500 (including fees)
Rashid Johnson, “Triangle,” 2010
Sold for $112,500 (including fees) on March 3, 2017, at Christie’s New York
RECENT NEWS Rashid Johnson is Adapting Richard Wright Novel ‘Native Son’ into a Film
Lot 212: BARKLEY L. HENDRICKS, “DIPPY’S DELIGHT,” 1969 (oil and acrylic on canvas). | Estimate $50,000-$70,000. Sold for $68,750 (including fees).
Barkley L Hendricks, “DIPPY’S DELIGHT,” 1969
Sold for $$68,750 (including fees) on March 2, 2017, at Sotheby’s New York
Lot 79: ROBERT COLESCOTT (1925-2009), “At the Bathers’ Pool: Inter-racial Blues,” 1984 (acrylic on canvas). | Estimate $30,000-$50,000. Sold for $55,000 (including fees)
Robert Colescott, “At the Bathers’ Pool: Inter-racial Blues,” 1984
Sold for $55,000 (including fees) on March 3, 2017, at Christie’s New York
Lot 355: ROBERT COLESCOTT, “Jelousy,” 1984 (acrylic on canvas). | Estimate $30,000-$50,000. Sold for $32,500 (including fees)
Robert Colescott, “Jealousy,” 1984
Sold for $32,500 (including) on March 2, 2017, at Sotheby’s New York
Lot 119: KEHINDE WILEY, “Untitled,” 2014 (watercolor, ink and metallic paint on paper) in artist’s frame. | Estimate $18,000-$25,000. Sold for $32,500 (including fees)
Kehinde Wiley, “Untitled, 2014
Sold for $32,500 (including fees) on Feb. 28, 2017, at Phillips New York
ON VIEW “Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic” at Toledo Museum of Art through May 14, 2017
Lot 69: GLENN LIGON, “(Miserable) Life #17,” 2008 (oilstick and gesso on paper). | Estimate $15,000-20,000. Sold for $21,250 (including fees).
Glenn Ligon, “(Miserable) Life #17,” 2008
Sold for $21,250 (including fees) on Feb. 28, 2017, at Phillips New York
Lot 67: KEHINDE WILEY, Portrait of Rahsaan Gandy,” 2013 (watercolor and oil wash on aquaboard). | Estimate $4,000-$6,000. Sold for $20,000 (including fees)
Kehinde Wiley, “Portrait of Rahsaan Gandy,” 2013
Sold for $20,000 (including fees) on Feb. 28, 2017, at Phillips New York
ON VIEW “Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic” at Toledo Museum of Art through May 14, 2017
Lot 120: RADCLIFFE BAILEY, “Solemn Journey,” 1998 (acrylic, oilstick and resin on wood). | Estimate $12,000-$18,000. Sold for $18,750 (including fees)
Radcliffe Bailey, “Solemn Journey,” 1998
Sold for $18,750 (including fees) on Feb. 28, 2017, at Phillips New York
Lot 68: KARA WALKER, “Untitled,” 2003 (watercolor on paper, 6 parts). | Estimate $15,000-$20,000. Sold for $15,000 (including fees).
Kara Walker, “Untitled,” 2003
Sold for $15,000 (including fees) on Feb. 28, 2017, at Phillips New York
Lot 7: HUGO MCCLOUD, “Untitled,” 2014 (aluminum foil, aluminum coating and oil on tar mounted on wood). | Estimate $12,000-$18,000. Sold for $15,000 (including fees)
Hugo McCloud, “Untitled,” 2014
Sold for $15,000 (including fees) on Feb. 28, 2017, at Phillips New York
Lot 300: LEONARDO DREW, “NUMBER 42A,” 2001 (found fabric, painted paper, wood, safety pins, rust, fur and plastic assemblage on panel). | Estimate $4,000-$6,000. Sold for $10,000 (including fees).
Leonardo Drew, “NUMBER 42A,” 2001
Sold for $10,000 (including fees), on March 2, 2017, at Sotheby’s New York
Lot 165: ADAM PENDLETON, “American Negro History (orange),” 2006 (silkscreen on canvas, edition of 1 plus 1 artist’s proof). | Estimate $2,000-$3,000. Sold for $4,000 (including fees)
Adam Pendleton, “American Negro History (orange),” 2006
Sold for $4,000 (including fees) on Feb. 28, 2017, at Phillips New York
ON VIEW “Adam Pendleton: Becoming Imperceptible” at Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (through May 14, 2017) and “Front Room: Adam Pendleton” at Baltimore Museum of Art (through Oct. 2017).
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Lot 178: Detail of SAM GILLIAM, “In Structure Of,” 1973 (acrylic on canvas). | Estimate $80,000-$120,000. Sold for $175,000 (with fees $208,500)
