Highest Total in Five Years for a 21st Century Evening Sale at Christie’s New York | Running Total for the Week: $1.35 Billion
NEW YORK – Following two days of record-breaking sales across eras and categories, Christie’s continued its billion-dollar Spring Marquee Week with back-to-back evening sales on Wednesday, May 20 showcasing works from the post-war and contemporary eras: Defined Space: The Collection of Henry S. McNeil, Jr. followed by Marian’s Richters & the 21st Century Evening Sale. Together, the two sales achieved $162,698,350, selling 98% by lot. The $136,808,450 total for the 21st Century Evening Sale was 42% higher than last May’s sale, and the highest 21st Century Evening Sale total at Christie’s New York in five years. Together with Monday’s Evening Sales and Tuesday’s Day Sales—including the Impressionist and Modern Works on Paper Sale, the highest total ever for the sale at Christie’s New York—the running total of the week stands at $1,346,800,656, nearly double last May Marquee Week’s total with more to come.
Isabella Lauria, Head of 21st Century Evening Sale, remarked, “It was a privilege to offer the personal collection of Hank McNeil, Jr., the best collection of Minimalism held in private hands, and of Marian Goodman, arguably the most important gallerist of our time, without whom our 21st Century sale wouldn’t be possible. Tonight was marked by active bidding and strong interest in artists spanning the most innovative movements from the post-war era through today. The results show a strong confidence in the contemporary market and we’re looking forward to building on all of this success in tomorrow’s Day Sale with the second phenomenal grouping from the Marian Goodman collection.”
Wednesday evening commenced with works from the Philadelphia home of Hank McNeil, a selection from the greatest collection of Minimalism in private hands. The sale realized $25,889,900 million, selling 100% by lot. The sale’s top lot was a stunning copper and red fluorescent Plexiglas Donald Judd stack from 1969, which sold for $12,825,000 after over four minutes of bidding, establishing a new record price for a Judd stack.
Sales continued with Marian’s Richters & the 21st Century Evening Sale, offering an unmatched selection of works by Gerhard Richter from the private collection of Marian Goodman, one of the most influential and important gallerists in history. Goodman established Richter’s market in the United States and had a decades-long partnership with the legendary artist. The sale included eight Richters that Goodman chose to live with in her home, and they realized $78,764,850 million, selling 100% by lot. The first lot—Dez. 99 [Firenze]—sold for $241,300, more than three times the high estimate. The Richters all saw active, deep bidding, with two lots each generating nearly 6 minutes of bidding. Leading the group and standing as the top lot of the entire evening was Kerze, a painting from Richter’s prized candle series. This was the first candle to come to auction in 15 years. It sold for $35.1 million, among the top four prices for the artist. The online component of Marian Goodman’s collection–Breaking Ground: The Private Collection of Marian Goodman Part I—remains open to online bidding until Friday, May 22.
The various-owner portion of the evening saw strong results throughout, including the Jean-Michel Basquait work Asbestos, which sold overestimate for $6,541,000, and a record for emerging talent Somaya Critchlow, whose work Count Me Out sold for $88,900. Christie’s Spring Marquee Week live auctions will conclude tomorrow with the Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale beginning tomorrow, Thursday, May 21.