Sotheby’s France strategy to a policy of rigorous selection, in terms of both the number and quality of the works offered, was rewarded by the participation of connoisseurs from around the world – and by the remarkable results that ensued. Dazzling proof of this success were new world record prices for Kazuo Shiraga, Germaine Richier and Sam Szafran.
Cheyenne Westphal, Global Co-Head for Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s, was in Paris for the sale and said that “Paris is a leading selling location as demonstrated by the successful results and world auction records achieved over the last two days”. Three World Auction Records:
KAZUO SHIRAGA, GEKIDOU SURU AKA (1969): €3.9m
No fewer than 13 bidders from around the globe contested this masterpiece. The price
pulverized the previous record for Shiraga set in New York six months ago.
GERMAINE RICHIER, DON QUIXOTE (1950/1): €1.7m
An extraordinary price for a sculpture by the artist – double the previous record set in New
York in November 2013.
SAM SZAFRAN, THE STUDIO–RUE DE CRUSSOL (1968-71): €865,500
A new world auction record for Szafran, shattering the previous high from 2005 and making
Szafran the third most expensive French artist alive today.
Highest Price of the Sale
Nicolas de Staël, Composition (1950): €4.2m
Allegati: Art Contemporain TopTen Juin14.pdf