FT Says Pinault Sold London’s $9m Ghenie in London

Some of the speculation about Adrian Ghenie owners has put the finger on Dean Valentine as the consignor of Christie’s The Bridge, which has become the source of some anticipation to see of the artist can repeat the success of last month’s sale in London of Nickelodeon. Speaking of which, the Financial Times’s Melanie Gerlis identifies the seller:

The lucky seller of that Adrian Ghenie painting at Christie’s in London last month was François Pinault, who owns the auction house through Groupe Artémis. The work — “Nickelodeon” (2008), guaranteed by a third party — soared ahead of its £1m to £1.5m estimate on October 6 to sell for a record £6.2m (£7.1m with fees). The work was priced in five figures when it originally sold to Pinault in 2008-9, through Haunch of Venison gallery, which Christie’s owned at the time.

The Art Market: uncertainty in New York, sales in Turin (Financial Times)