Phillips de Pury makes solid $80 million

In a week of billion dollar art sales, Phillips de Pury & Company’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction totaled $79,904,500 selling 83% by lot and 98% by value

New York – 16 NOVEMBER 2012 – In a week of billion dollar art sales, Phillips de Pury & Company’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction totaled $79,904,500 selling 83% by lot and 98% by value. An outstanding selection of masterworks by Richter, Warhol, Basquiat and Calder energized a full salesroom and realized superb results.

Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Self-Portrait, 1982, a stunning work-on-paper, sold for $4,058,500 and achieved the world record for a Basquiat work-on-paper. Paintings by Tauba Auerbach, Rashid Johnson and Sterling Ruby achieved record prices, along with Dan Colen’s chewing gum on canvas piece, S & M, 2010.

“We are pleased with the results of this evening’s sale and proud of our growth within this robust market. We continue to provide a stellar platform for the sale of blue chip and emerging artists and look forward to ending the season with much success.” Michael McGinnis, Chief Executive Officer and Worldwide Head of Contemporary Art

Top Ten Lots:
12 ANDY WARHOL, Mao, 1973 (pictured above), $13,522,500
18 ANDY WARHOL, Nine Jackies, 1964, $12,402,500
8 GERHARD RICHTER, Kegel (Cone), 1985, $12,402,500
10 JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT, Humidity, 1982, $10,162,500
7 JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT, Self-Portrait, 1982, $4,058,500
13 ALEXANDER CALDER, The Whiffletree, circa 1936, $4,002,500
28 JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT, Radium 23, 1982-1983, $3,666,500
20 ALEXANDER CALDER, Model for Rosenhof, 1953, $3,218,500
16 CADY NOLAND, Clip on Method, 1989, $1,762,500
19 JOAN MITCHELL, The Lake, 1981, $1,762,500

Artist Records:
7 JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT, Self-Portrait, 1982, $4,058,500 (record for a work on paper for this artist)
1 TAUBA AUERBACH, Untitled (Fold), 2010, $290,500
2 RASHID JOHNSON, Fly, 2011, $182,500
3 STERLING RUBY, SP 17, 2008, $626,500
6 DAN COLEN, S & M, 2010, $578,500

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