STARTING with artworks by expressionists and surrealists Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee to greatly desired pop art prints and modern 20th century works by Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol or Keith Haring, the British auction house Phillips will host its first Edition&Works on Paper sale of the year in New York City this mid-April. The auction will offer over 340 lots, all representing the milestones of the artistic achievement over the last 10 decades.
Since the remarkable performance made within its auction house in London in January, Phillips’ Worldwide Co-Heads of Editions, Kelly Troester and Cary Leibowitz are delighted to host the first New York sale of the year.
Post-war American art treasures
A selection of American post-war works signifies the sale, including Reverie and Sweet Dreams Baby! by American Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. Characterising a new centre of America’s art history, and defining the meteoric rise of the artist, the two images have sustained as two of the biggest prizes in all Post-War printmaking.
Roy Lichtenstein, Reverie, 1965
Roy Lichtenstein, Sweet Dreams Baby!, 1965
Likewise, American artist H.C Westermann’s set of ‘70s lithographs, See America First, speak for a growing cult. It will be the first time in 30 years that a complete set will be offered at an auction. Another complete set offered will be Robert Indiana’s The Book of Love, containing 12 screen prints and 12 poems which bespeaks the universal Pop iconography.
H.C Westermann, See America First, 1968
Freefall, the most monumental and challenging print by Helen Frankenthaler will also be in the auction, alongside Jasper John’s work Gray Alphabets.
Jasper John, Gray Alphabets, 1968
Contemporary Art section
A memorable piece among the contemporary highlights is Keith Haring’s final print work, Best Buddies. Essential works by female artists, such as Yayoi Kusama and Louise Bourgeois also feature strongly. More contemporary art to be offered is by Robert Longo, a prints selection by Ed Ruscha, and several works by Richard Serra, as well as Ellsworth Kelly.
Keith Haring, Best Buddies, 1990
Modern art
A rich selection of modern art includes Paul Klee’s Ältliches Kind II (Elderly child II) and Henri Matisse’s Hindoue à la jupe de tulle (Hindu Woman with a Tulle Skirt). Next to Pablo Picasso, works by Wassily Kandinsky, Alberto Giacometti, Alexander Calder, Jean Dubuffet and Jean Cocteau will also be in the auction to acquire.
Pablo Picasso, Buste de femme au corsage blance (Jacqueline de profil), 1957
by Viola Li
Auction viewing: 15-23 April
Auction: 23 April
Location: 450 Park Avenue, New York
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