A. Alfred Taubman, Sotheby's former chairman, out of jail and back (as a client) at the auction house last nightLast night was a watershed for Sotheby's, not just because of its many records broken by its Contemporary sale, but also because it was the last day for redemption of the antitrust settlement coupons (issued to compensate clients who were hurt by illegal collusion … [Read more...] about Another Sotheby’s/Christie’s Windfall: Unredeemed Auction Settlement Coupons
Hits and Misses at Sotheby’s Highest-Grossing Auction in Its History
Why is this artist smiling?No, the above photo was not taken at the Brooklyn Museum. It's Takashi Murakami, posing in front of his $15.16-million "My Lonesome Cowboy," immediately after last night's Sotheby's Contemporary sale, which set auction records for him and 17 other artists.When I wrote yesterday about having once seen Robert Rauschenberg at a major auction of his work, … [Read more...] about Hits and Misses at Sotheby’s Highest-Grossing Auction in Its History
Contemporary Auction: Christie’s Roars Back
Top Lot: Mark Rothko, "No. 15," 1952 You've probably already heard about the bravura performance of Christie's in pulling off a highly successful contemporary art auction last night: ---Second-highest contemporary art auction total ever: $348,263,600---Record auction price for a living artist, set by Lucian Freud's "Benefits Supervisor Sleeping": $33,641,000---Auction records … [Read more...] about Contemporary Auction: Christie’s Roars Back
My “Youth vs. Experience” Musings on WNYC’s Radio “Smackdown”
John Schaefer, referee for WNYC's "Soundcheck Smackdown"The undefeated CultureGrrl and my debate opponent, arts consultant Barry Hessenius, floated like a butterfly but didn't sting like a bee as we danced around the unanswerable question posed at yesterday's half-hour New York Public Radio Soundcheck Smackdown (for which I borrowed the empowering Wonder Woman costume from … [Read more...] about My “Youth vs. Experience” Musings on WNYC’s Radio “Smackdown”
Robert Rauschenberg, 82: Forever Young, Always Remembered
Robert Rauschenberg at MASS MoCA during installation of "The 1/4 Mile or 2 Furlong Piece," 1999The above publicity image of the late Robert Rauschenberg is the only photo of anyone other than my own family that I display in my house. (It's taped to a wall in my office.) He inspired me with the breathtaking audacity of his improbable but irresistible inventions and his feisty, … [Read more...] about Robert Rauschenberg, 82: Forever Young, Always Remembered
Universal World Heritage…Except When It’s Rent-a-Show Time
Henri Loyrette, Director of the Louvre How has director Henri Loyrette changed the Louvre since the Pierre Rosenberg days? That's what a BusinessWeek magazine reporter based in Paris wanted to know when she called me yesterday for a phone interview. So I ranted about what I've called the "Louez le Louvre" phenomenon---the proliferating megabucks rental shows, whereby the … [Read more...] about Universal World Heritage…Except When It’s Rent-a-Show Time
CultureGrrl Represents the Geezers Tomorrow in NY Public Radio Debate
Hey, I'm still on the right side of 60! Nevertheless, I've been asked (partly on the strength of my Elderfield Too Elderly? post) to take the old folks' side in a debate tomorrow on WNYC, New York Public Radio, on the relative merits of youth vs. age in cultural organizations. I warned Soundcheck associate producer Brian Wise that although I oppose age-ism, I have a nuanced … [Read more...] about CultureGrrl Represents the Geezers Tomorrow in NY Public Radio Debate
Cleveland Kerfuffle: Italy Again Engages in Repatriation-by-Press
Francesco Rutelli (second from right) at a New York press conference last June where he announced the supposed signing of an accord with Princeton UniversityApparently Francesco Rutelli's penchant for pressing for repatriation through the press, rather than through quiet, collegial diplomacy, survives his terminated tenure as Italy's culture minister. On Friday, the Associated … [Read more...] about Cleveland Kerfuffle: Italy Again Engages in Repatriation-by-Press
Shoot the Headline Writer (Again): Bloomberg Foretells Freud’s Auction Price
Lucian Freud, "Benefits Supervisor Sleeping," 1995"Freud's Heavyweight Nude Gets $35 Million Price," alleges the headline (which may well be rewritten by the time your read this) for today's online art-market commentary by Martin Gayford in Bloomberg.That's more than you or I know, since the Christie's auction where Lucian Freud's "Benefits Supervisor Sleeping" (above) may … [Read more...] about Shoot the Headline Writer (Again): Bloomberg Foretells Freud’s Auction Price
Sotheby’s First-Quarter Loss: Commission Margins Down; Buyers Premium Up UPDATED
Sotheby's Stock ChartThere was a lot of news in Sotheby's First Quarter 2008 Earnings Conference Call this morning with investment analysts. The lead-off revelations: The auction house's revenues ($129.3 million) declined $18.1 million (12%), compared to the first quarter of 2007. There was a first-quarter net loss of $12.4 million ($0.19 per diluted share) compared to net … [Read more...] about Sotheby’s First-Quarter Loss: Commission Margins Down; Buyers Premium Up UPDATED
It’s Official: Sandro Bondi Replaces Rutelli as Italian Culture Minister
Italian Culture Minister Sandro BondiWhat I foretold here (thanks to a helpful tip from Louis Godart) has now officially come to pass: Sandro Bondi has been named by the new Berlusconi government to replace The Great Repatriator, Francesco Rutelli, as Italy's minister of culture. (Above is his official portrait on the Ministry of Culture's website.) In addition to being head of … [Read more...] about It’s Official: Sandro Bondi Replaces Rutelli as Italian Culture Minister
Sotheby’s Impressionist/Modern Results: Relief and Vindication
Simon ShawRelief and satisfaction were palpable among Sotheby's Impressionist/modern experts at their press conference (which was viewable online) after tonight's big sale. The sale's hammer price totaled $208.63 million ($235.33 million with buyers premium) for 52 lots, within a presale estimate of $203.9-280.1 million. (One lot was withdrawn before the sale, which is why … [Read more...] about Sotheby’s Impressionist/Modern Results: Relief and Vindication
Early Returns: Sotheby’s Sale Looks Like a Winner (UPDATED TWICE)
The Big Lot, Léger's "Study for 'The Woman in Blue,'" 1919 (above), achieved a hammer price of $35 million---at the low end of its $35-45 million presale estimate, but enough to set a new auction record for the artist. There have been two unsold lots in the front 20. Only two sold below estimate.More to come. It's not over till it's over.UPDATE: More records, more buy-ins. … [Read more...] about Early Returns: Sotheby’s Sale Looks Like a Winner (UPDATED TWICE)
NY Times Auction Report: Shoot the Headline Writer
At least the online headline is accurate, but even Carol Vogel, who in her NY Times post mortem emphasized the positive aspects of last night's so-so results at Christie's Impressionist/modern sale, could not possibly have agreed with the editors' headline (above) on Page B2 of today's newspaper:Sale Results of Impressionist and Modern Art Exceed Expectations at Christie'sAs … [Read more...] about NY Times Auction Report: Shoot the Headline Writer
Is the Art Market Still Hot? At Christie’s, Not
Top Lot: Monet, "Le Pont du Chemin de fer à Argenteuil," 1873, $41.48 millionLast November's anemic results at Sotheby's evening Impressionist/modern sale in New York did little to dampen the art market's overall ebullience. So I won't go so far as to say that Christie's lackluster performance tonight signals a market correction. But even though it gave itself an exceptionally … [Read more...] about Is the Art Market Still Hot? At Christie’s, Not