On March 5, in conjunction with the Armory and ADAA art fairs in New York, Christie's Post-War auction will offer more than 200 main-market works that blend postwar masters with cutting-edge contemporary stars. Placing key works by blue chip artists such as Alma Thomas, Tom Wesselmann, Josef Albers, Robert Indiana and Andy Warhol in the same context as emerging talent such as Julie Curtiss, Eddie Martinez, Shara Hughes, Nathaniel Mary Quinn and Nina Chanel Abney, this season seeks to highlight key dialogues spanning the 20th and 21st centuries and to connect collectors with the most desirable works at basic market prices.
Alma Thomas (1891-1978), Flash of Spring, 1968. Estimate $450.000 – $650.000
Painted in 1968, when the artist was seventy-seven years old, Alma Thomas' Flash of Spring ($450.000-650.000) is one of the artist's first fully abstract works, deploying her signature brushstroke in response to nature's surging energy. Between his 1966 retrospective at Howard University and his death at the age of eighty-six in 1978, Thomas created a stunning series of kaleidoscopic paintings, in which brilliant, jewel-like colors, often arranged in vertical bands or concentric circles, they are composed of squared dabs of paint reminiscent of mosaics or stained glass. Painted at the height of his mature period, Flash of Spring embodies Thomas's best and most celebrated work. With her exuberant palette of bright, rainbow colors, the painting embodies the joie de vivre she is best known for.
Charles White (1918-1979), Brother John Sellers, 1954. Estimate: $80.000-120.000
Rendered in ink and graphite in the style of Charles White's signature, Brother John Sellers, 1954 (estimate: $80.000-120.000) – pictured at left, demonstrates the artist's exquisite skill and technique as a draughtsman. White was extremely passionate about the power of music and sought to infuse the same kind of emotional power into his art as he did. He has portrayed a large number of African American musicians and many of these drawings have been used as album covers. In 1954, the Vanguard record label chose White to design the cover of their next album of Brother John Sellers' Sings Blues and Folk Songs. The powerful image depicts a highly emotional singing man. The figure's face is filled with emotion and subtle power, allowing the viewer to imagine the songs of Brother John Sellers flowing from his mouth.
Leading the sale are two 1967 canvases by Robert Indiana, both titled LOVE (Each lot estimate: $1-1,5 million). Composed of vibrant colors and sharp outlines, these two iconic paintings stand out as superlative and striking examples from the artist's personal collection. For decades, these paintings have hung over the artist's bed following him from his years in Slip to Vinalhaven, a small, isolated island off the coast of Maine, where he found refuge after years of city life. His intimate connection with “LOVE” as the predominant subject of his typeface and concept, as well as his everlasting impact, is clearly evidenced in the artist's choice to keep them near and dear for decades.
Highlighting the sale is Jon Gould's collection property. Twenty five year old junior artist, Jon Gould would be Andy Warhol's last romantic relationship. Gould was handsome, young, and a vice president of Paramount Pictures when the two met in late 1980. Warhol was so smitten that at one point he had his silk heart factory assistants as a Valentine's Day gift for Jon. Together between the years of 1981 and 1985, the Hollywood citizen stayed with Warhol in the Manhattan townhouse whenever he visited the city. Warhol even suggested that he help Jon build a collection of his own, and Gould had indeed decided to actively acquire contemporary art, in addition to the work Warhol had given him. The current group includes two works by Warhol: a 1981 portrait by Jon Gould (estimate: $150.000-200.000), and one of the aforementioned Valentines, Candy Box (85 cents by Lamston), 1983 (estimate: $70.000-100.000 ). Also included is dynamic work by Keith Haring, with whom the couple were very close and spent time on Cape Cod. Haring is represented by Untitled, 1984 (estimate: $200.000-300.000).
Among the many prestigious collections represented in the postwar sale to date, there is also Property From The Collection Of Courtney Sale Ross. This prestigious grouping includes works by Willem de Kooning, Josef Albers, Arnaldo Pomodoro and Susan Rothenberg. An educator and documentary filmmaker, Ms. Ross became friends with de Kooning in the early 80s after meeting him while producing her documentary Strokes of Genius: de Kooning about de Kooning. As a friend of the artist's wife, Elaine, Ms. Ross portrayed de Kooning like no other, and set about assembling an exemplary collection of works from the early part of his career – works that illustrate the artist's transformation into one of the most important figures in 20th century art. Highlighting the selection are three notable drawings by Willem de Kooning, led by two women, circa 1950 (estimate: $80.000 – 120.000).
For the second year, Christie's will offer a group of works to be sold to benefit the BOMB Magazine Endowment Fund. In 2018, BOMB Magazine announced it had launched an endowment campaign partially supported by generous donations from today's leading contemporary artists and collectors. The sale of these works will directly fund BOMB Magazine's Future Fund, an endowment project that will formalize a safety net for publication and ensure the long-term survival of these essential primary artist conversations and their continued creation in perpetuity.
Four works will be included in the selection, including Carroll Dunham's Leaf (Five), 2008-2009 (estimate: $70.000-90.000), donated courtesy of the artist, and Gladstone Gallery, Pat Steir's Untitled, 2010 (estimate: $120.000- 180.000) donated courtesy of the artist and Lévy Gorvy – pictured above, left, Amy Sillman's Untitled, 2019 (estimate: $40.000-60.000), donated courtesy of the artist and Gladstone Gallery, and Donald Judd's Untitled, 1978 (estimate: $50.000-70.000), donated courtesy of Agnes Gund.
Cover Artwork : Josef Albers (1888-1976) – White Wall B – Estimate 350,000 – 550,000 USD
