Christie’s to Host an Exciting Series of Auctions, Exhibitions and Events During “Frieze Week”

LONDON.- Christie’s announce an exciting series of public exhibitions, events and auctions from 10 October to 18 October in London coinciding with the Frieze Art Fair. The week will be highlighted by the Post-War & Contemporary Evening Auction and The Italian Sale on 14 October at 6.30pm, which will offer 51 and 45 lots accordingly and which will include an extremely strong section of photography, and the most important work by Damien Hirst to be offered at auction since September 2008 (estimate: £2.5 million to £3.5 million).

Francis Outred, Head of Post-War & Contemporary art, Christie’s Europe : “Every year in October in London, the Frieze art fair gathers art lovers from around the world for one of the most enthusiastic and vibrant celebrations of Contemporary art. This year we will be opening our salerooms and presenting one of our busiest and most accessible ever weeks of events, public exhibitions and sales; from the evening auction of Post-War & Contemporary art and Italian art, to highlights from the forthcoming season of sales in New York and the ‘Multiplied’ print fair hosted at South Kensington, there will be art to see, admire and buy from under £100 to over £3 million.”

POST-WAR & CONTEMPORARY EVENING AUCTION
Exhibition: 10 to 14 October
Auction: 14 October at 6.30pm
The highlight of the week, the Post-War &Contemporary Evening Auction will offer 51 lots with a combined estimate of £15,950,000 to £22,710,000. The auction is led by I am become death, shatterer of worlds, the largest sized butterfly painting to have been executed by Damien Hirst (b.1965). The most important work by the artist to be offered at auction since Beautiful Inside My Head Forever, the artist’s solo auction in London in September 2008, it is expected to realise £2.5 million to £3.5 million. Over 5 metres wide, the title reflects the words uttered by J. Robert Oppenheimer following the detonation of the Atomic bomb.

The auction will also offer 3 works which were exhibited at USA TODAY, the celebrated exhibition which spot-lighted a new generation of American artists explicitly tackling the legacy of America in the 21st century. The exhibition was held at The Royal Academy in 2006, and at The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg in 2007 and 2008. The works to be offered at Christie’s are Kryptonite, 2006, by Mark Bradford (b.1961) (estimate: £200,000 to £300,000); The People that Pay and The People that Play, 2004, by Jules de Balincourt (b.1972) (estimate: £70,000 to £100,000); and Black Star Press (rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise); Black Star, Black Press, Star Press, 2006, by Kelley Walker (b.1969) (estimate: £500,000 to £700,000).

Two impressive works by Gerhard Richter (b.1932) both painted in the 1980s will also be offered at the auction. Zwei Buaume (Two Trees), 1987, is a photorealist landscape (estimate: £800,000 to £1,000,000) and Adstraktes Bild, 1981, is a spectacular abstract which is expected to realise £600,000 to £800,000.

The auction will present an impressive selection of photography featuring works by 7 of the leading exponents in the contemporary art field including Andreas Gursky, Thomas Struth, Jeff Wall and Cindy Sherman, among others. A leading highlight of this section is Lehman Brother’s New York, Stock Exchange by Andreas Gursky (b.1955). Formerly in the collection of Lehman Brothers, it is offered under the direction of the joint administrators of Lehman Brothers Limited (‘LBL’) and of Lehmans Brothers International (Europe) (‘LBIE’) who are partners at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (estimate: £100,000 to £150,000).

THE ITALIAN SALE
Exhibition: 10 to 14 October
Auction: 14 October -
Immediately following the Post-War & Contemporary Evening Auction
The annual auction dedicated to 20th century Italian art will offer 45 lots with a combined estimate of £14,263,000 to £20,188,000. Presenting works created by many of Italy’s most renowned 20th and 21st century artists, a leading highlight is Cavaliere, a very rare work by Marino Marino that was conceived in 1951, one of the best years in the artist’s career. The sculpture, one of an edition of five, is also particularly rare as it was finished by hand by Marini who personally chiseled and patinated the bronze to give it his unmistakable style. When one of the directors of Unionen (the Swedish workers’ union who is now selling this lot) acquired the sculpture in 1955 there was a scandal in the country, as the workers questioned the expense. It is now expected to realise £1.2 million to £1.8 million.

A further highlight is Dodici forme dal 10 giugno, 1967 (estimate: £150,000 to £200,000), a surprisingly modern, visionary and political work of art by Alighiero Boetti considered to be at the forefront of the artist’s production. It was created from 1967 to 1971 on 12 copper plates, each of them engraved with the shape of a country militarly occupied during those five years. The Boetti section includes 4 more works, among which is a rare Mappa, an impressive embroidered tapestry on a pale lime green background (estimate: £700,000-1,000,000. A number of iconic pieces by increasingly acclaimed artists such as Domenico Gnoli, Piero Manzoni and Lucio Fontana will also be featured.

POST-WAR & CONTEMPORARY
DAY AUCTION
Exhibition: 10 to 14 October
Auction: 15 October at 2pm
The Post-War & Contemporary Day Auction will offer 206 lots with a combined estimate of £7,085,500 to £10,027,500 and with individual estimates from £10,000. It will present works by many established artists at a more accessible price level, including Andy Warhol and Peter Doig, as well as showcasing the work of many new, contemporary and cutting edge artists. The auction will also present a selection of works on behalf of The Royal College of Art, who are seeking to raise funds for the third and final phase of the College’s campus in Battersea, south west London. The opportunity to have a portrait executed by the Chapman Brothers is expected to realise £15,000 to £20,000, while the RCA has also been donated works by further artists associated with the college, including David Hockney, Tracey Emin, Frank Auerbach, Paula Rego and the Estate of RB Kitaj.

MULTIPLIED
CONTEMPORARY EDITIONS FAIR
Exhibition: 15 to 18 October at Christie’s South Kensington
Christie’s will host an exciting new fair in the field of contemporary art editions, providing a platform to promote emerging talent in two and three-dimensional contemporary editions. 35 galleries will gather at Christie’s South Kensington and showcase a selection of the most challenging, cutting-edge work being produced today. Exhibiting a wide range of publishers under one roof, Christie’s aim to help them promote their businesses and the artistic talent that they support. Contemporary publishers and gallerists representing established artists such as Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin will exhibit alongside many as yet unknown and emerging talents.

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