BY ALBERT CHEN

Phillips is set to dazzle the art world with its highly anticipated November Evening Sale of Modern & Contemporary Art in New York, showcasing an impressive lineup of 33 lots featuring trailblazing masterpieces and contemporary gems. Slated for November 19 at 5 p.m. EST at their 432 Park Avenue location, this event promises to attract global collectors with an appetite for significant works by renowned masters and contemporary talents alike.

The headline piece is Jackson Pollock’s Untitled, circa 1948, a quintessential example from his revolutionary drip painting period. This work, making its first public appearance since the major 1998-1999 retrospective at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and London’s Tate Gallery, once graced the private collection of legendary design icon Florence Knoll. Emphasizing Pollock’s transformative impact on 20th-century art, Untitled encapsulates the raw energy and abstract innovation that redefined the use of paint as an expressive medium.

Equally captivating are two rare double self-portraits by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol from the early 1980s. This marks the first time that such pivotal works have appeared together in a single auction. Basquiat’s self-portrait, executed on three hinged panels reminiscent of a religious altarpiece, immortalizes his figure crowned with his signature dreadlocks.

The piece is infused with references to jazz legends like Thelonious Monk and Ben Webster, positioning Basquiat within a lineage of influential Black artists while anchoring his early identity as SAMO©, his graffiti moniker. This evocative work has passed through prestigious collections, including those of Larry Warsh and actor Johnny Depp, and has been exhibited globally, enhancing its already storied provenance.

Warhol’s double self-portrait, first shown at London’s Anthony d’Offay Gallery and part of a significant touring exhibition in the early 2000s, delves into the artist’s exploration of identity and fame. Originating from his collaboration with photographer Christopher Makos, Warhol’s portrayal—donning no disguise yet fully “in character”—embodies his introspective later works, emphasizing his dual existence as both artist and iconic subject. This piece represents a crucial prelude to Warhol’s creative partnership with Basquiat, spotlighting the interplay between their individual paths.

Cy Twombly’s Crimes of Passion I (1960), another standout, exemplifies his Baroque Paintings. Painted during his early years in Rome, the work channels the timeless allure of antiquity, blending mythological themes with abstract expressionism. The bold reds and charged forms evoke themes of love and violence, a testament to Twombly’s synthesis of the classical and the avant-garde. Once in the collections of rock legend Eric Clapton and Heiner Friedrich, this painting underscores Twombly’s status as a master of symbolic depth.

Modern art luminaries also feature prominently. Pablo Picasso’s Buste d’homme (1964), part of a series painted in one day, captures the boldness of his late style and pays tribute to Henri Matisse. Picasso’s use of Fauvist colors and expressive forms nods to his admiration for Matisse, whom he first met in 1906 through Gertrude Stein. This work, unseen for six decades, emerges as a testament to Picasso’s lasting experimentation and homage to his contemporary.

Joan Miró’s Peinture (1950), from his Spontaneous Paintings series, embodies his playful and fluid style, further diversifying the sale’s appeal. The collection bridges the historical with the modern, featuring works by Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt, as well as contemporary stars like Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, whose Watcher stands as a powerful example of her portraiture, and Derek Fordjour’s Twelve Tribes, showcasing the rich textures and narratives that have captured collectors’ interest.

Marking her auction debut is Li Hei Di with Unfolding a flood (2022). This piece captures the artist’s exploration of identity through vivid, abstracted storytelling, underscoring Phillips’ dedication to emerging talents alongside time-honored names.

The sale follows Phillips’ recent success with Basquiat’s Untitled (ELMAR), which garnered $46.5 million, and confirms the market’s ongoing fervor for works by both Basquiat and Warhol. As Jean-Paul Engelen, President, Americas, and Robert Manley, Deputy Chairman, noted, this auction epitomizes Phillips’ commitment to meeting the dynamic tastes of their discerning clientele with works that boast exceptional quality and provenance.

Also Read

Rare Basquiat Masterpieces Worth Over $60,000,000 Unveiled by Phillips

The World Art News (WAN) is not liable for the content of this publication. All statements and views expressed herein are opinions only. Act at your own risk. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. © The World Art News