Contemporary Art at Sotheby's

Tuesady night Sotheby's held its contemporary art auction, and given that the economy is in the shitter it should be no surprise that overall the night was less successful than expected. Sotheby's failed to sell at least twenty lots and came in well below their low estimate, which was 202.4 million. They only made 125.1million. It isn't as bad as all that though because Tuesday night's estimates were done during the summer, before the September meltdown of the financial markets. Also there was one bright spot according to the Times, and that was for one of my favorite artists John Currin. Above is Currin's "Stamford After Brunch," one of my favorite paintings of all times.

Here is the quote from the Times article.

There was no bargain to be had when it came to a painting by John Currin. Dean Valentine, a Los Angeles collector, was selling “Nice ’n’ Easy,” a 1999 painting of two Renaissance-inspired nude women that Sotheby’s had priced at $3.5 million to $4.5 million. Three people bid, and it sold for a record price of $5.4 million. "Nice 'n' Easy," pictured above is from the Sotheby's website.