Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

What Makes Contemporary Art Jump?

February 17, 2010 by Marion Maneker

Colin Gleadell does some explaining about the highly successful London sales of Contemporary art, especially why the Lenz works sold so well, and provides a scorecard on market darlings, Doig and Ofili:

The Lenz sale also included works by more established artists of the era such as Lucio Fontana (shimmering works on copper) and Yves Klein (female body outlines made with a blowtorch). Selling for more than £3 million to a collection in Switzerland, these prices were anticipated. What the Lenz sale demonstrated was that the market loves a prestigious private collection, and is ready to set new price levels for previously under-valued post-war classics that are now safely in the history books.
Peter Doig’s huge ski painting, Saint Anton, did not attract much competition, selling for £2.8 million. But, for the owner who bought it in 1996 for £12,000, that was some result.
Chris Ofili: His radiantly pink glitter-and-elephant dung painting, Through the Grapevine, bought in 1999 for around £20,000, sold well above expectations for a record £802,850 – a price that makes Tate’s purchase of Ofili’s 13-painting installation, The Upper Room, for £600,000 five years ago look like a complete bargain. Salzau, a small watercolour by Ofili, made £20,000, four times its estimate and five times what it fetched at auction in 2002.

Art Sales: Spring Brings Ray of Sunshine (Telegraph)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • London Gives Some Second Thoughts About June SalesLondon Gives Some Second Thoughts About June Sales
  • Where to Look for Rising Stars Past & Present? Poland, Japan and the UKWhere to Look for Rising Stars Past & Present? Poland, Japan and the UK
  • Sotheby’s London Contemporary Evening = £118m ($144.5m)Sotheby’s London Contemporary Evening = £118m ($144.5m)
  • Phillips London Evening = £14.66m ($17.9m)Phillips London Evening = £14.66m ($17.9m)
  • Christie’s London PWC Evening = £96m ($118m)Christie’s London PWC Evening = £96m ($118m)
  • Sotheby’s Goes German in London Led by BaselitzSotheby’s Goes German in London Led by Baselitz

Filed Under: Auction Results Tagged With: Chris Ofili, Contemporary, London, Peter Doig

About Marion Maneker

LiveArt

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor