Cy Twombly Value: Top Prices Paid At Auction

Part of Twombly's Blackboard series (1966-1973), Untitled (New York City) (1968) is a monumental work measuring over six feet by five feet. Known for its “lasso-loop” motifs, the painting captures Twombly's blend of chaotic energy and meticulous precision. In 2015, it became the most expensive lot at Sotheby's Contemporary Evening sale, fetching £46.6 million with fees, setting a new auction record for Twombly. With a prestigious provenance, including ownership by Leo Castelli and Charles Saatchi, the piece marked a pivotal moment in Twombly's artistic career.

Twombly's Blackboard series is known for its minimalistic and conceptual style, characterised by spontaneity and intuition in its creation. At first glance, the compositions seem like simple scribbled swirls, but beneath this surface lies a paradoxical blend of chaotic energy and meticulous precision. These paintings are among the most sought-after in Twombly's oeuvre, as evidenced by the high prices they command at auction. This Untitled (1970) piece achieved £43.8 million in 2014, setting what was then a record for Twombly at auction.

Untitled (Peonies) (2007) from Twombly's A Scattering of Blossoms series represents a pivotal shift in his artistic journey, blending Japanese influences with his signature style. This series, comprising six works, was first exhibited at the Collection Lambert in Avignon, France. In this piece, Twombly recontextualises familiar motifs with poetic precision, focusing on the peony's delicate beauty. This work sold at Sotheby’s in 2021 for £43.8 million, marking the first piece from the series to debut on the open market. Its sale underscores Twombly's enduring influence and the strong market demand for his works across different artistic periods.

Twombly's Leda And The Swan (1962) is a powerful exploration of classical mythology, depicting the mythic encounter between Jupiter, transformed into a swan, and Leda, leading to the birth of Helen of Troy. This work, deeply infused with romanticism, antiquity, and psychoanalysis, reflects Twombly’s unique blend of American and European cultural influences. The painting's violent energy, expressed through dynamic loops and marks on a white canvas, has been both celebrated and critiqued. In May 2017, it sold for £40.9 million at Christie's, underscoring Twombly’s enduring artistic impact.

Twombly created Untitled (2005) as part of his Bacchus series at age seventy-five, representing the culmination of his career. These works, tied to the deity of wine and creativity, exudes a dynamic energy reminiscent of his Blackboard series. Twombly's large, looping brushstrokes, applied with a long pole, evoke both modern art techniques and classical themes of passion and chaos. Showcased in 2006 at Gagosian Gallery, this piece sold for £35.3 million at Christie's in 2017, cementing Twombly's influence and value in Contemporary art.

This work, part of Twombly's Bacchus series, envelops the viewer with its vast scale, being the second-largest canvas in the second set of Bacchus works. Most pieces from this series are housed in museum collections. Critics often draw parallels between the dynamic energy of Twombly's lasso-loops and the ferocity of the Greco-Roman battles that inspired him. These vibrant, fluid works are rare on the market and command high prices, with this particular piece selling for an impressive £35 million at Phillips in 2022.

Twombly’s Untitled (1969), part of his renowned Blackboard series, showcases lyrical, coiling forms that transcend traditional language, evoking emotions through visual rhythms. This work reflects influences from minimalist pioneers like Frank Stella and the dynamic fluidity of Jackson Pollock's action painting. Twombly’s time in Rome and New York introduced an urban street art aesthetic into his creations. This painting, rich in intellectual and emotional depth, sold for £30.4 million at Sotheby’s in May 2022.

Twombley's Bolsena series, created in 1969, comprises 14 canvases blending figurative and abstract elements. These works diverge from his Blackboard and Bacchus series, reflecting the complexities of his artistic language. Inspired by his time near Lake Bolsena in northern Rome, the series was inspired by and captures the global resonance of the Apollo 11 mission. The paintings, filled with cryptic symbols and abstract narratives, resemble notebook sketches and mathematical scribbles. This enigmatic and symbolic piece sold for £29.8 million at Christie's in October 2020.

Movie producer John Waters recalls meeting Cy Twombly at the Locarno Film Festival, where he nervously asked for Twombly's address to send him a Christmas card. Twombly kindly obliged, writing it down in his familiar, poetic script, which left Waters nearly swooning. Waters is among those who view Twombly's handwriting as a form of poetry, rich with enigmatic meaning. The artwork Untitled (Rome) (1970), belonging to Twombly's Blackboard series, exemplifies this creative energy and fetched £29.6 million at Sotheby's in May 2021.

Another piece from Twombly's Bolsena series, created during his time in northern Rome, also ranks among his top-selling works. This painting captures the essence of notebook sketches, blending meticulous calculations with Twombly’s unique visual language. Featuring a prestigious international provenance, this artwork fetched £27.3 million at Christie's in May 2015.