We kick off the month of March in the art world with a real treat for art enthusiasts! Here, we bring down the results of Sotheby’s London’s third iteration of the Modern & Contemporary Day Auction. This auction took place on 2 March 2023, at New Bond Street galleries in London. Bringing together over a century of paintings, drawings, and sculptures, this auction will brilliantly showcase the multifaceted spirit of creativity from the late 19th century to the present.
From street art to classic paintings, this auction promises to showcase some of the most unique and captivating works of art that the world has to offer. In this blog post, we’ll explore the highlights of Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Day Auction in March 2023 with a focus on street art. To be precise, our attention goes to Andy Warhol, Banksy, and Keith Haring. The artworks of these three artists achieved a mind-boggling $1.895.022 million. Wow!
Andy Warhol – Shoes
Wealthy art collectors shrugged off recession worries and spent a lot on this auction. Estimated around 80,000 – 120,000 GBP, Andy Warhol‘s astonishing painting “Shoes” (acrylic and silkscreen ink on paper) executed in 1984, was sold for 101,600 GBP.
This of course is a small amount of money, compared to last year’s screenprint of Marilyn Monroe, Shot Sage Blue Marilyn (1964) which achieved $195m at an evening sale held by Christie’s New York. Pop artist Andy Warhol’s portrait of Marilyn Monroe is now the most expensive piece of artwork by an American artist ever sold at an auction.
Banksy – Flower Chucker & Flower Thrower Triptych
Ahh Banksy! In the world of modern art, Banksy has become one of the most sought-after artists in the world today. This particular piece entitled “Flower Chucker” (stencilled with the artist’s name, spray paint on cardboard, executed in 2003) was estimated for around 300,000 – 400,000 GBP. And it was sold for the stunning amount of 381,000 GBP.
Another astonishing piece found its way to this auction. “Flower Thrower Triptych (Grey)” screenprint on recycled card, in artist’s frame, in three parts, was estimated at 120,000 – 180,000 GBP and achieved 152,400 GBP. This piece is number 118 from an edition of 300 and was executed in 2019.
Keith Haring – Untitled
And the star of today’s auction at Sotheby’s (when it comes to street artists) is Keith Haring. Over the years, his extraordinary art proved consistently popular at auctions. “Untitled” (signed and dated JUNE 11-84 Milano on the overlap), acrylic on canvas, was estimated at 1,000,000 – 1,500,000 GBP and was sold for 952,500 GBP. Not bad, would you agree?
We still remember 18 May 2017, when Keith Haring’s “Untitled” from 1982 soared past its US$ 6 million high estimate in Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction in New York, setting a new world auction record for the artist. Now, that’s something!
Street art has been a rising star in the contemporary art world for the past few decades, and Sotheby’s has been quick to recognize its significance. The street art auction at Sotheby’s is a vibrant and colorful display of street and urban art at its finest. For those with deep pockets, the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Auction is an art collector’s dream.
Photos: Sotheby’s
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