Carte Blanche

Maurizio Cattelan

Stephanie, 2003

Est. $1,500,000- $2,000,000
Sold At: 2,434,500

It has been an incredibly exciting weekend. Friday we were invited to the Studio of Claes Oldenburg, where he and his daughter showed us around his Soho Townhouse, and kindly let us peak at his past and future models for his projects.

On Saturday I first went to Bonham Auction house where Tate Doherty (head of Contemporary) talked about the Auction market. It is a packed Art Auction week in New York City, with all the big Auction houses holding Contemporary Art Auctions. Only very potential buyers get to attend these events, you must show proof of liquid cash of at least $1,000,000 to even bid and that still does not entitle you to an evening show invite. (The day shows are a little more lenient).

The event that is going to fire lose tonight is the "Carte Blanche" Auction at Philips de Pury & Company. An auction curated by the famous art adventurer Philip Segalot (also famous for his vibrant hairdo). This event will actually be part of the Auction houses history, since this will be the first ever curated auction show, and surely not the last.

Maurizio Cattelan

Charlie

Est. $2,000,000- $3,000,000
Sold at: 2,994,500

 Jean-Michel Basquiat

Self Portrait, 1982

Est. $4,000,000-6,000,000
Sold At: 4,562,500

It was breathtaking to walk into Philips de Pury on Saturday. Right away you sense the amount of great quality Art that is being presented. The buzz and the excitement was filling up the big open rooms where the fashionable "potential" bidders were mingling.

"I have always been interested in the concept of curated sales, where the artworks are selected not for their market value but for their artistic quality, historical importance and coherence within the group. Here I tried to push this idea further by bringing together a small "collection" comprised of my favorite works by my favorite artists. The result is a true self-portrait, a close representation of my life as an art lover, an art collector and an art advisor."

         - Philippe Segalot

 Takashi Murakami

Miss ko2, 1997

Est. $4,000,000-$6,000,000

Sold At: $6,802,500

Yves Klein

SE 161 (1959?)

Est. $700,000-$900,000

Sold At: 1,314,500

Paul McCarthy

Mechanical Pig, 2005

Est. $2,500,000-$3,500,000

Passed

Felix Gonzales-Torres

"Untitled" 1992

Est. $4,000,000-6,000,000
Sold At: 4,562,500

My legally looted Felix Gonzales-Torres.

I had to taste one and I have two left, should they be framed?

Tonight at 6PM the show begins, and if you can't go there in person you can do what I am planing to do, watch it on the internet. Philips de Pury's web site.

With Love

Kristin