Daniel Arsham Value: Top Prices Paid At Auction

Arsham's visionary perspective propels him beyond his time, offering a unique insight into future artefacts and their millennia-spanning evolution. His meticulously sculpted rendition of a Vogue cover page, crafted from quartz crystal, highlights the magazine's luxury status intertwined with art, paralleling trajectories. Arsham's curated selection of contemporary features for his bespoke cover, from skateboarding to Richard Serra and architectural brilliance, captures the pulse of modern interests. With a multifaceted role as the creative director of the Cleveland Cavaliers, his narrative resonates, echoing I.M. Pei's journey from Cleveland to Paris and subtly nodding to Arsham's own origins. This work fetched £229,108 (with fees) at Phillips Hong Kong in November 2019 solidifying its position as Arsham's auction record.

Arsham's dedication to his geological explorations, integral to his concept of “fictional archaeology,” finds poignant expression in this artwork, also paying homage to Andy Warhol's iconic Brillo Boxes (1964). With a fascination for historical narratives, Arsham employs his anachronistic approach, juxtaposing contemporary elements within temporal flux. This temporal transposition not only forecasts future archaeological epochs but also symbolically underscores the historical significance of these creations in contemporary culture. Arsham's adept ability to crystallise these concepts is mirrored in the market response, evidenced by the £184,015 achieved for Eroded Brillo Boxes at Sotheby's in November 2019, situating this work among his top-selling pieces.

In Grey Selenite Eroded Porsche (2019), Arsham presents a captivating tribute to the revered Porsche 911, a cornerstone of sports car history. Using his unique artistic material, Arsham orchestrates a transformation that infuses the car with an essence of future antiquity, embodying his concept of “the future relic of the present.” Revealed within Selfridge's London, this work intertwines cultural significance and luxury. Arsham's meticulous craftsmanship creates a crystalline landscape on the car's surface, with the glistening crystal erosions serving as both visual enhancement and symbolic testament to its opulence. Implicit in this endeavour is an exploration of temporal flux, contemplating how our contemporary era and prized possessions will be remembered by future generations. Grey Selenite Eroded Porsche, a blend of automotive excellence and sculptural innovation, fetched £166,244 (with fees) at Phillips Hong Kong in July 2020.

Crafted from delicate pink selenite and ethereal rose quartz, Teddy Bear (2017) emerges as a poignant symbol of childhood nostalgia within contemporary art. Delving into collective memory, this artwork explores the enduring allure of the teddy bear motif across generations. The deliberate choice of material and hue invites viewers into a realm of sentimental reverie, yet an intriguing undertone emerges with the rose quartz punctuating the bear's form—a visual metaphor hinting at relics and the artificiality of preservation. Arsham's discourse intertwines with exploration of obsolescence and technology's flux, encapsulating a tension between antiquity and the modern age. This work realised £100,543 (fees included) at a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong in October 2020.

The Pyrite and Selenite Teddy Bear (Large) (2017) resurfaces as a captivating artefact, intricately merging past and future within its enigmatic composition. Inspired by Merce Cunningham's temporal explorations, Arsham skilfully integrates this theme into his artistic repertoire, evident in his Teddy Bear and other relic works. Through meticulous material manipulation, Arsham bridges present and future, echoing Cunningham's temporal investigations in the contemporary art scene. This piece showcases Arsham's conceptual depth and universal appeal, garnering acclaim for its profound engagement with time and materiality. This work fetched £89,515 (with fees) at Sotheby's Hong Kong auction in July 2020.

Crafted in 2019, this piece represents another iteration of Arsham's Vogue Magazine series. Each edition within this series showcases Arsham's creative prowess, with meticulously sculpted fictional magazine covers. Drawing inspiration from fashion, Arsham incorporates playful nods like “baggy is back,” borrowed from JNCO, the iconic Los Angeles denim brand known for oversized jeans. This reference to bygone brands reflects Arsham's fascination with obsolescence, echoing his collaborations with luxury fashion houses. Influenced by artists like Josef Albers and Saul Bass, this artwork reflects Arsham's unique perspective, culminating in a sale of £89,473 (with fees) at Phillips Hong Kong in July 2020.

Throughout history, artistic explorations of the female form have been a prominent theme, from ancient times to contemporary interpretations. British artist Henry Moore, renowned for his abstract reclining and seated female figures, serves as a modern exemplar of this tradition. Similarly, Arsham embraces this concept in his work, presenting Seated Female Figure (2016), a contemporary reinterpretation of the archaeological female form. Crafted from volcanic glass, the figure exudes opulence, symbolically hinting at the reconstruction of a fractured relic from the past. Arsham's art, showcased in his solo retrospective at the Moco Museum in Amsterdam, transcends temporal boundaries, embodying a fusion of past, present, and future. This artwork realised £76,691 (fees included) at Phillips Hong Kong in July 2020.

Pyrite Eroded Chicago Bulls Jacket (2015) epitomises Arsham's fusion of fashion and celebrity collaborations. Arsham ingeniously reimagines the iconic Chicago Bulls Basketball jacket, embedding it with dual temporal significance. Symbolising both an archaeological relic from the past and a projection into the future, the artwork hints at the transience of contemporary culture. Throughout all his work, Arsham orchestrates a compelling tension between immediate and distant timescales, prompting reflection on consumerism and reality. This poignant exploration of past, present, and future themes resonates throughout his oeuvre. Pyrite Eroded Chicago Bulls Jacket realised £66,616 (fees included) at Sotheby's in May 2020 and is among his top selling works.

Renowned for his engagement with iconic Disney characters, Patch 15 (2018) emerges as a distinctive wall-relief composition, featuring the iconic Pink Panther divided into two parts. With a touch of mystery, Arsham fractures the figure, symbolically alluding to its future entombment, while quartz crystals imbue the work with timeless significance. Sold at Phillips New York in March 2022 for £57,348 (with fees), this piece resonates deeply with collectors and enthusiasts, testament to Arsham's ability to infuse contemporary culture with thought-provoking narratives and enduring allure.

Part of an evocative series, Large Wrapped Animal (Blue) (2018) stands as a cornerstone in Arsham's artistic journey, employing his innovative wrapper drapery technique to obscure the familiar forms of Disney characters and nostalgic toys. Veiled in mystery, this piece hovers between the iconic Mickey Mouse and a childhood stuffed toy, granting viewers interpretive freedom. Departing slightly from his norm, Arsham's deliberate concealment doesn't firmly root it in the past or future relic aesthetic but invites contemplation on the nostalgia of cherished toys, hinting at their perceived obsolescence. Recently fetching £50,870 (with fees) at Phillips in May 2023, it underscores the enduring appeal of these works among collectors and sits within Arsham's hgihest valued works.