Last week's American Art / Contemporary Art auction resulted in new records and strong prices all around, with both sections bringing strong prices. The top lot was Robert Gwathmey's excellent Prologue II, a large oil on canvas that sold for $72,000, an record price for the artist at auction. Prologue II and his Southern Farmer, which went for $43,200, were the top two lots in the American Art portion of the sale.
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| Robert Gwathmey, Prologue II, oil on canvas, 1962. |
Wayne Thiebaud's Blighted Area is the earliest work by the artist to ever come to auction. The piece - made before Thiebaud started painting the vibrant candy for which he is known - was painted circa 1955 and brought $45,600, the top lot among the Contemporary Art.
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| Wayne Thiebaud, Blighted Area, oil on board, circa 1955. |
Another major item was a group of drawings by Robert Mangold. Arc Studies: 4 Drawings, 1974, color pencil drawings on paper which explore material, shape, line and color, sold for $31,200.
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| Robert Mangold, Arc Studies: 4 Drawings, color pencil on paper, 1974. |
Labels: American Art, contemporary art, Robert Gwathmey, Robert Mangold, Todd Weyman, wayne thiebaud, Works of Art on Paper
