RELEASE: CHRISTIE’S TO PRESENT SINGLE ARTIST AUCTION OF INTO AFRICA: PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER BEARD

New York

New York – On October 3rd, Christie’s will offer Into Africa: Photographs by Peter Beard, an auction devoted specifically to the work of the much-beloved artist. Comprised of 28 works, the sale represents many of Beard’s most celebrated and sought-after images and ephemera, including examples from his first one-man show at the International Center of Photography. Many of the works presented within this sale were originally gifted by the artist, and together they portray the breadth and scope of the artist’s career, ranging from his well-known images of threatened African animals to his fashion photographs and elaborate diary pages.  Estimates within the selection begin at $1,000 and reach up to $300,000.

The sale’s top lot is a stunning large-format Tsavo Tusker on the Athi-Tiva River, 1965 (estimate: $200,000-300,000), which powerfully illustrates the majesty of its elephant subject. Also being featured is Orphaned Cheetah Cubs, Mweiga, Kenya, 1968 (estimate: $150,000-250,000), which features extensive and colorful handwork by Beard's African collaborators, Mathenge and Kivoi.

About Christie’s

Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business. Renowned and trusted for its expert live and online auctions, as well as its bespoke private sales, Christie’s offers a full portfolio of global services to its clients, including art appraisal, art financing, international real estate and education. Christie’s has a physical presence in 46 countries, throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, with flagship international sales hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva. It also is the only international auction house authorized to hold sales in mainland China (Shanghai).

Christie’s auctions span more than 80 art and luxury categories, at price points ranging from $200 to over $100 million. Christie’s has sold 8 of the 10 most important single-owner collections in history, including the Paul G. Allen Collection—the most valuable collection ever offered at auction (November 2022). In recent years, Christie’s has achieved the world record price for an artwork at auction (Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, 2017), for a 20th century artwork (Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, 2022) and for a work by a living artist (Jeff Koons’ Rabbit, 2019). 

Christie’s Private Sales offers a seamless service for buying and selling art, jewellery and watches outside of the auction calendar, working exclusively with Christie’s specialists at a client’s individual pace.

Recent innovations at Christie’s include the groundbreaking sale of the first NFT for a digital work of art ever offered at a major auction house (Beeple’s Everydays, March 2021), with the unprecedented acceptance of cryptocurrency as a means of payment. As an industry leader in digital innovation, Christie’s also continues to pioneer new technologies that are redefining the business of art, including use of hologram technology to tour life-size 3D objects around the world, and the creation of viewing and bidding experiences that integrate augmented reality, global livestreaming, buy-now channels, and hybrid sales formats. 

Christie’s is dedicated to advancing responsible culture throughout its business and communities worldwide, including achieving sustainability by reducing our carbon emissions by 50% and pledging to be net zero by 2030, and actively using its platform in the art world to amplify under-represented voices and support positive change.

Browse, bid, discover, and join us for the best of art and luxury at: www.christies.com or by downloading Christie’s apps. The COVID-related re-opening status of our global locations is available here.