New York, 12-13 November 2013
$782,368,375: HIGHEST AUCTION SERIES TOTAL IN ART MARKET HISTORY
$142.4M FOR FRANCIS BACON TRIPTYCH: MOST VALUABLE WORK OF ART EVER SOLD AT AUCTION
$58.4M FOR JEFF KOONS’S BALLOON DOG: MOST VALUABLE WORK SOLD AT AUCTION BY A LIVING ARTIST
Christie's two-day auction series devoted to Post-War and Contemporary Art achieved a grand total of $782,368,375 setting a new record high for any auction series.
The Evening Sale achieved an unprecedented $691 million, the Morning Sale realized $55.2 million and the Afternoon Sale achieved $35.6 million. Each sale saw individual auction records set for both established masters and rising stars of the category.
Explore the Auctions
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POST-WAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART EVENING SALE
New York, 12 November 2013View Results -
POST-WAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART MORNING SESSION
New York, 13 November 2013View Results -
POST-WAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART AFTERNOON SESSION
New York, 13 November 2013View Results
Videos
The Highest Total in Auction History: Post-War and Contemporary Art, Evening Sale - November 12, 2013
Christie's two-day auction series devoted to Post-War and Contemporary Art achieved a grand total of $782,368,375 setting a new record high for any auction series. The Evening Sale achieved an unprecedented $691 million, followed by a $55.2 million Morning Sale and a $35.6 million Afternoon Sale, all of which saw individual auction records set for both established masters and rising stars of the category.
Jeff Koons’ Balloon Dog (Orange) at Christie’s New York
Jeff Koons’ iconic Balloon Dog (Orange) is now on view at Christie’s Rockefeller Center Galleries, New York.
Gallery Talk: Three Studies of Lucian Freud by Francis Bacon
Francis Outred, Head of Post-War and Contemporary Art, Europe and Martin Harrison, editor of the forthcoming Francis Bacon catalogue raisonné, discuss Francis Bacon’s iconic triptych, Three Studies of Lucian Freud to be offered in the upcoming Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening sale on 12 November 2013 in New York.
Post-War and Contemporary Art: A Season of Masterpieces
One hundred years ago, the First International Exhibition of Modern Art, known as the Armory Show, was held in New York. A century on, Christie’s presents one of the most important selections of works ever to be offered at auction. The historic season contains masterpieces that have changed the vision of what art could be, forever. These seminal works hold up a mirror to our times.
Francis Bacon’s Three Studies of Lucian Freud
On November 12, Christie’s New York will offer Francis Bacon’s Three Studies of Lucian Freud, one of the most iconic paintings by the artist, uniting two of the 20th Century’s greatest figurative painters at the apex of their relationship. This extremely rare triptych, which was exhibited in Bacon’s now renowned retrospective at the Grand Palais, Paris in 1971-72, has never been on the auction market before. The painting is poised to break the previous world auction record for the artist of $86 million achieved in 2008.
Lucio Fontana’s Concetto spaziale, La fine di Dio
On November 12, Christie’s New York will offer Lucio Fontana’s Concetto spaziale, La fine di Dio. The perfect summation of the artistic philosophies that defined the career of Lucio Fontana, La fine di Dio stands out as an exemplary incarnation of Fontana’s quest to free the spirit from earthbound matter.
Donald Judd’s Untitled (DSS 42), 1963
Collector Robert A.M. Stern discusses Donald Judd’s Untitled (DSS 42), 1963, to be offered in the upcoming Post-War and Contemporary Evening Sale in New York on 12 November 2013.
Jeff Koons on Balloon Dog (Orange)
"I wanted to connect the monumental to the everyday" — Jeff Koons. Jeff Koons talks about the origins of his iconic Balloon Dog sculptures and why his Celebration series is a reflection of his views about art and the world.
Peter Brant on Collecting
Set against the exquisite backdrop of The Brant Foundation Art Study Center in Greenwich, Brant discusses his personal views on collecting, the first work he acquired as a young art lover, and his enduring fascination with the innovators of our time, including Jeff Koons, whose work he began collecting in the 1980s.
The Collection of Senator Frank R. Lautenberg
While known for his long and distinguished career in public service, few knew of Senator Lautenberg’s passion for art. He had been an avid art collector for many years, and shortly after winning his Senate seat in 1982, he began to pursue collecting with true passion, choosing works that identified an aspect of American culture and history. From Ed Ruscha’s billowing American flag set against a setting sun to Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup I, each work in his collection reflected his personal passion for America and gratitude for his American experience.
Masterpieces & Collections
Browse the special catalogues and videos from our masterpieces and collections of the season
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Francis Bacon Three Studies of Lucian Freud
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Jeff Koons Balloon Dog (Orange)
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Donald Judd Untitled (DSS 42)
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Mark Rothko No. 11 (Untitled)
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Andy Warhol Coca-Cola [3]
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Jean-Michel Basquiat Untitled
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Lucio Fontana Concetto spaziale, La fine di Dio
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The Collection of Senator Frank R. Lautenberg
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Press
- Post-War And Contemporary Art Evening Sale Achieves $691,583,000: Highest Auction Total In Art Market History Christie’s, 12 November 2013
- Bacon, Koons Set Major Records in New York at Christie’s Bloomberg, 13 November 2013
- At $142.4 Million, Triptych Is Most Expensive Artwork Ever Sold at an Auction New York Times, 12 November 2013
- Francis Bacon Work Sells for $142.4 Million The Wall Street Journal, 12 November 2013
- Francis Bacon triptych sells for record $142.4 million at Christie's N.Y Reuters, 12 November 2013
- Francis Bacon's 'Lucian Freud' triptych breaks auction price records Los Angeles Times, 12 November 2013
- Francis Bacon painting auctioned for more than $142 million, breaks record CNN U.S., 13 November 2013
- Bacon Triptych Makes $142.4 M. at Christie’s, Record for Art at Auction Gallerist, 12 November 2013
- Christie’s record $142m Bacon sale Financial Times, 13 November 2013
- Flag painting from Lautenberg's art collection fetches $4.2M at Christie's of New York auction NJ.com, 12 November 2013
- FRANCIS BACON’S THREE STUDIES OF LUCIAN FREUD AN ICON OF TWENTIETH CENTURY PAINTING Christie’s, 12 November 2013
- ANDY WARHOL’S COCA-COLA | THE ICON OF AMERICAN POP ART Christie’s, 12 November 2013
- UNTITLED (No. 11) A RADIATING SUNSET-ORANGE ABSTRACT MASTERPIECE BY MARK ROTHKO Christie’s, 12 November 2013
- WARHOL’S LAST MASTERWORK MERCEDES-BENZ W 196 R GRAND PRIX CAR (STREAMLINED VERSION, 1954), 1986, FROM THE DAIMLER ART COLLECTION Christie’s, 12 November 2013
- ABSTRACT MASTERPIECE BY GERHARD RICHTER FROM THE COLLECTION OF ERIC CLAPTON Christie’s, 12 November 2013
Sale Info & Contacts
20 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY
VIEWING TIMES
Nov 1 10am-5pm
Nov 2 10am-5pm
Nov 3 10am-5pm
Nov 4 10am-5pm
Nov 5 10am-12pm
20 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY
AUCTION TIMES Nov 12 7:15pm
VIEWING TIMES
Nov 8 10am - 5pm
Nov 9 10am - 5pm
Nov 10 1pm - 5pm
Nov 11 10am - 5pm
Nov 12 10am - 12pm
CONTACT
Koji Inoue
kinoue@christies.com
Tel: + 1 212 636 2100
20 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY
AUCTION TIMES Nov 13 10am
VIEWING TIMES
Nov 8 10am - 5pm
Nov 9 10am - 5pm
Nov 10 1pm - 5pm
Nov 11 10am - 5pm
Nov 12 10am - 12pm
CONTACT
Jen Yum
jyum@christies.com
Tel: + 1 212 636 2100
20 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY
AUCTION TIMES Nov 13 2pm
VIEWING TIMES
Nov 8 10am - 5pm
Nov 9 10am - 5pm
Nov 10 1pm - 5pm
Nov 11 10am - 5pm
Nov 12 10am - 12pm
CONTACT
Saara Pritchard
spritchard@christies.com
Tel: + 1 212 636 2100
AUCTION TIMES
Bidding Begins: Nov 7 at 1pm EST
Bidding Ends: Nov 19th at 1pm EST
VIEWING TIMES
Nov 8 10am - 5pm
Nov 9 10am - 5pm
Nov 10 1pm - 5pm
Nov 11 10am - 5pm
Nov 12 10am - 12pm
CONTACT
Amelia Manderscheid
amander@christies.com
Tel: + 1 212 636 2100