Changes are afoot in the world of modern art.
Decorative art and furnishings, once a secondary avenue for sculptors like Isamu Noguchi and Harry Bertoia, are hot items now.
“What was once work by an artist that only appealed to the decorative art world now is being collected by the fine arts world – and prices are going up,” says Peter Loughrey, founder of Los Angeles Modern Auction.”
I’ll say. A piece by Bertoia recently sold for $750,000 to an art collector, not an interior design collector. A table by Noguchi went for $4 million; 20 years ago, it was valued at $100,000. “His decorative art is being collected by major art institutions,” he says.
Conversely, there’s Charles Eames. Known as a furniture designer, he felt he was an artist also. As an architect, he created stunning environments, but he was also preoccupied with film and photography. “He created the standard, multi-screen documentary display of information,” he says. “The current Power Point presentation owes a lot to him – most people think of the Eames chair and don’t know the rest.”
LAMA’s next auction, on Feb. 25, will feature works by Eames, Bertoia and many more modernists. There’s Richard Pettibone, a Pop artist who specialized in minimizing the works of Warhol and Johns, and created a movement called The Appropriators. The work consists of tiny, familiar paintings on tiny canvases and tiny stretchers, along with tiny frames.
“Pettibone said painting is just as much a part of Pop culture as the soup can is,” he says. “He showed it to Leo Castelli and Warhol and they said that it was exactly what Pop was about – and Castelli began to represent him.”
The auction will include works by Frank Stella, Ed Ruscha and NASA engineer-turned-modernist Fred Eversley. Even Frank Gehry will be represented.
Yes. Changes are afoot in the world of modern art. But it’s still impactful – and that’s why its value is increasing by the day.
For more, go here.
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Los Angeles Modern Auctions February 25, 2018 Auction Data:
Cy Twombly Note II 1967 Published and printed by Universal Limited Art Editions, West Islip Etching on Auvergne handmade paper Unique trial proof aside from the edition of 14 Initialed in graphite lower right edge of sheet; edition lower left; retains ULAE blind stamp lower left Image: 8.75″ x 10.75″; Sheet: 25.5″ x 20″; Frame: 29″ x 24.125″ Literature: Cy Twombly: The Printed Graphic Work, 1953-1984. H. Bastian. 1984. #7. Estimate: $60,000 – 90,000
Frank Stella Rayy Sketch 1970 Print with hand-coloring on paper Signed and dated lower right beneath image; titled lower left Image: 15″ x 74.75″; Sheet: 26.5″ x 78.5″; Frame: 29″ x 81″ Estimate: $50,000 – 70,000
Ed Ruscha Cheese Mold Standard with Olive 1969 Published by the artist; printed by Jean Milant and Daniel Socha, Hollywood 13-color screenprint on wove paper #109 of 150 Signed and dated with edition in graphite lower left margin of sheet beneath image; retains Brooke Alexander Gallery label frame verso Image: 19.5″ x 36.75″; Sheet: 25.75″ x 40.125″; Frame: 29.875″ x 46.75″ Literature: Edward Ruscha: Editions, 1959-1999: Catalogue Raisonné. 1st ed. Vol. II. S. Engberg and C. Phillpot. 1999. #31. Estimate: $50,000 – 70,000
Frederick Hammersley
Home Run
1967-1968
Oil on linen
Signed and dated lower right; retains artist’s label verso
Linen: 41.75″ x 41.75″; Frame: 42.625″ x 42.75″
Estimate: $50,000 – 70,000
Richard Pettibone Andy Warhol, ‘Two Campbell’s Soup Cans, Onion,’ 1961 and 1962 2006 Oil on canvas Titled canvas overlap verso; signed and dated canvas overlap verso with ink stamp “JUN 15 2006″ Canvas: 7.25″ x 11.75″; Frame: 7.625″ x 12” Estimate: $25,000 – 35,000
Richard Pettibone My Favorite Title (Frank Stella, “The Marriage of Reason and Squalor,” 1959) 1980 Acrylic on canvas Signed, titled, and dated verso; inscribed “Frank Stella, “The Marriage of Reason and Squalor,” 1959. Enamel on canvas, 7′ 6 3/4″ x 11′ 3/4″. It’s not my favorite painting but it sure is my favorite title. I mean it’s certainly a terrific painting, it’s just not my favorite.” recto Canvas: 12.125″ x 20″ Estimate: $25,000 – 35,000
Robert Rauschenberg Sling-Shots Lit #6 1985 Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles 11-color lithograph and assemblage with sailcloth, Mylar, wooden lightbox, aluminum, moveable window shade system, Plexiglas bars, and fluorescent light fixture #17 of 25 Signed, dated, and titled with edition on signature plaque on lower left side of the lightbox Gemini G.E.L. #41.161 84.5″ x 56.25″ x 12.5″ Literature: Rauschenberg at Gemini. Armory Center for the Arts exh. cat. 2010. 38. Estimate: $20,000 – 30,000
Jasper Johns Flag (Moratorium) 1969 Published by the Committee Against the War in Vietnam Offset color lithograph on wove paper #77 of 300 Edition lower left margin beneath image; signed lower right margin; printed “© Jasper Johns 1969″ lower right edge of sheet Image: 17.125″ x 26″; Sheet (vis.): 20.25″ x 28.75″; Frame: 21.125″ x 29.125″ Estimate: $10,000 – 15,000
Robert Rauschenberg Pull (from Hoarfrost Editions) 1974 Published and printed by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles Offset lithograph and screenprint transferred to collage of paper bags and fabric on cheesecloth and silk taffeta #19 of 29 Signed and dated with edition lower center edge Gemini G.E.L. #41.93 Collage: 85” x 48”; Frame: 88″ x 53” Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000
