Now

Nov 2013 Contemporary Day

OVERVIEW

We are thrilled to present a particularly strong selection of Contemporary works of art in Sotheby’s Day Sales on 14 November. Highlighting the Morning Session is Property from the Makler Family Collection, which includes the most important suite of jewelry by Alexander Calder to ever come to auction. The collection of 18 pieces includes elegant brooches and bracelets, whimsical earrings and magnificent necklaces. The session is also punctuated by important Abstract Expressionism including Mark Rothko, Alexander Calder and Joan Mitchell, an outstanding offering of Cy Twombly, John Chamberlain and Alfred Jensen from the Dia Art Foundation as well as fantastic examples of Pop and 1980s works by artistic greats such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. The Afternoon Session includes outstanding works of art by some of the most interesting, influential and visionary artists of today including Ai WeiWei, Cecily Brown, Mark Grotjahn and Carol Bove. Sotheby's is particularly pleased to offer a selection of works for sale to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Generously donated by leading artists including Theaster Gates, Wade Guyton and Marina Abramović, the proceeds from these 8 works will directly benefit EJAF's grant-making initiatives.

RESULTS

Our 14 November Contemporary Art Day Auction achieved $93,623,626, with 16 lots selling for more than $1 million. The sale opened with the impressive group of 18 pieces of Alexander Calder jewellery from the Makler Family Collection, which overall totaled $8 million, dwarfing the $1.9 - 2.7 million presale estimate. Additional top lots included Mark Rothko’s Untitled from 1959 that sold for $3.7 million and Julie Mehretu's colorful and energetic work from 2000, Bombing Babylon, realized $2.7 million.