Having staged no post-war and contemporary art sales in the capital last summer, this year Christie’s will seek to avoid leaving the field clear for its rivals although, unlike Sotheby’s, it will not be holding an evening sale.
The new events added to Christie’s calendar are a sale of works from the Saatchi Gallery collection and a separate auction branded Post-War to Present. Both events take place at Christie’s King Street saleroom on June 28.
Christie’s chairman and head of post-war and contemporary art Francis Outred said: “Bridging the gap between London’s key auction seasons in March and October, our June focal point will engage with a global audience hungry to continue connecting with new talent.”
Saatchi Gallery works
The 100 works from the Saatchi Gallery will be divided into a 50-lot live sale and a 50-lot online auction (from June 20-29). The auction house said the collaboration will “reflect the Saatchi Gallery’s role in nurturing young artists” and that all proceeds will be used to support the gallery’s free entry and education programme.
Highlights will be on view at the Chelsea gallery before transferring to Christie’s premises for the auction viewing.
‘Brian Jones' Swimming Pool’, an oil on canvas from 2000 by Dexter Dalwood that is estimated at £30,000-50,000 at Christie’s sale of works from the Saatchi Gallery. Image: Christie’s Images Ltd 2018.
Among the works on offer is Dexter Dalwood’s (b.1960) Brian Jones' Swimming Pool, an oil on canvas from 2000, which has the highest estimate in the sale at £30,000-50,000.
The Saatchi Gallery had acquired it at Christie’s in July 2014 for a premium-inclusive £27,500.
Themed events
The Post-War to Present sale is being billed as a new thematic auction which will demonstrate “the synergy between artists of different generations across the globe”. This sale concept will also be launched in New York with auctions in September and March.
The London event will offer an as-yet unspecified number of lots, but Christie’s has said estimates will range from £5000-500,000 in order to provide opportunities for collectors at different price levels.
An untitled oil on canvas from 1967 by Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu (1921-94) that will be offered at Christie’s Post-War to Present sale in June, estimated at £70,000-100,000.
As well as the auctions, Christie’s is staging an exhibition titled Sacred Noise which will “explore the legacy of European religious painting in modern and contemporary art”. It will feature works ranging from Old Masters such Titian and Francisco de Zurbarán to 20th century artists including Pablo Picasso and Stanley Spencer. It will run at Christie’s King Street from June 25-July 21.
