Auction Watch: Christie’s November Sales Lead With Basquiat and Hockney Hammering At $87.4 Million
Image © Christie's / Untitled (Hollywood African Mask) © Keith Haring 1987
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In customary fashion, Christie’s 21st Century and Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale will mark the conclusion of the November sales. While the evening sale brought in $87.4 million at the hammer, the auction house delivered a strong performance, showcasing a 100% sell-through rate to close out an enthusiastic week of sales in New York City. As the results from the day sale come in, this report will be updated accordingly.
Christie’s 21st Century Evening Sale achieved a hammer total of $87.4 million, making it the only individual sale, excluding single-owner collections, to surpass its presale low estimate by 11% and fall just 1% short of last year’s equivalent sale total. The auction featured 42 lots, all of which found buyers, with nearly half backed by the auction house or third-party guarantors. Two works were withdrawn presale, including Diane Arbus’ A Jewish Giant (1970), which was anticipated to set a new record, and a painting by Eric Fischl, which could have otherwise contributed to a white-glove performance. Impressively, 66% of the lots performed within or above their estimates, offering a diverse and compelling selection of works by both female and male artists across various mediums.
Here are the highlights:
Image © Christie's / Untitled © Jean-Michel Basquiat 1982Basquiat Emerges As the Star Lot at Christie’s 21st Century Sale
The standout of Christie’s 21st Century Evening Sale was a striking Untitled work on paper by Jean-Michel Basquiat, which hammered just below its $20 million presale estimate at $19.6 million, achieving $22.9 million with fees. Basquiat’s presence in this November's sales has been somewhat subdued compared to previous seasons, where he dominated October, May, and November auctions in 2022 and 2023. Despite the slimmer representation, this piece shone brightly, contributing an impressive 22% to the overall hammer total and reaffirming Basquiat’s market appeal this auction season.
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Image © Christie's / Four Empty Vases © David Hockney 1996David Hockney's Still Life Surpasses Expectations
David Hockney’s Four Empty Vases (1996) highlighted a recurring theme of still life works on tables during this auction season, complementing the earlier success of Still Life on Glass Table (1970) from the Mica Ertegun Collection. A vibrant composition featuring vases on a blue tablecloth set against a striking green background, this piece marked a departure from Hockney’s iconic Yorkshire landscapes and pool scenes. Making its auction debut, the work garnered strong interest, hammering at $7.1 million–above its $5.5 million high estimate–and achieving $8.5 million with fees.
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Image © Christie's / New Hoover Celebrity IV, New Hoover Convertible, New Shelton 5 Gallon Wet/Dry, New Shelton 10 Gallon Wet/Dry Doubledecker © Jeff Koons 1981-86
Jeff Koons Rebounds at Christie’s With Favourable Results for Two Unique Works
Jeff Koons saw a notable comeback at Christie’s after mixed results at Phillips and Sotheby’s, with two pieces garnering attention. Large Vase of Flowers (1991), a polychromed wood sculpture, showcased a more restrained approach to Koons' signature kitsch style, earning favourable reception. The work hammered at $6.8 million, surpassing its presale low estimate, and achieved $8.2 million with fees in its auction debut.
Additionally, Koons’ New Hoover (1981-1986), a collection of five pristine vacuum cleaners displayed in a sleek case, hammered at $4.2 million, meeting its presale estimates and achieving $5.1 million with fees. This early piece from Koons’ oeuvre draws comparisons to Marcel Duchamp’s ready-made works and is often seen as a commentary on consumerism. For Koons, however, it represents themes of anthropomorphism and a conceptual exploration of sexuality. The work resonated strongly with collectors, marking a notable performance and reinforcing his market momentum.
Image © Christie's / Le Fleurs © Louise Bourgeois 2009Louise Bourgeois’ Auction Debuts
Louise Bourgeois delivered a commendable performance with two notable works showcasing a departure from her iconic arachnid sculptures and demonstrative of her diverse artistic repertoire. Le Fleurs (2009), a complete set of 12 paper works forming a striking tapestry, each featuring a singular red flower with abstract petals, made its auction debut. This piece, was met with enthusiasm, hammering at $2.1 million and achieving $2.5 million with fees.
Additionally, an untitled totem sculpture from 1947, part of Bourgeois’ early Personages series, also made its first auction appearance. The work hammered above its low estimate at $1.2 million, ultimately achieving just over $1.5 million with fees, further underscoring the enduring appeal of Bourgeois’ groundbreaking art.
Keith Haring’s Hollywood African Mask
Keith Haring continued his successful November auction streak with a standout performance at Christie’s, following strong showings at Sotheby’s and Phillips. The sale featured Untitled (Hollywood African Mask) (1987), a cut-out aluminium piece with provenance tracing back to Haring’s original gallery representation, Tony Shafrazi. One of only eight similar works created by Haring, the piece surpassed its presale high estimate of $2 million, hammering at $2.6 million and achieving $3.1 million with fees.
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Stay tuned as this report will be updated with highlights from Christie’s Post-War and Contemporary Day Sale, including top-performing prints and multiples. Refer to our other auction reports for detailed analysis: Sotheby's Modern and Contemporary auctions, Christie's 20th Century sale, and Phillips Modern & Contemporary Sale.
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