An upcoming Christie’s Education short course, Women at Auction
Yes, that is definitely the case. Most Post War and Contemporary Evening sales see over 85% male, however things are slightly starting to change. This week’s Sotheby’s Contemporary Evening Sale sees the highest amount of women at an evening sale ever, and includes the likes of young artist Toyin Ojih Odutola, whose work has only appeared at auction three times. Christie’s Post War and Contemporary sale also includes a mammoth Joan Mitchell and Cecily Brown, but again is introducing the market to the younger Jordan Casteel, whose work sold for more than four times its estimate at the Sotheby’s Auction that raised money for the redevelopment of the Studio Museum in Harlem. It’s a very exciting time for women artists at auction, and with the rise of women in the emerging market, it could very well filter through to the secondary market, which I am really looking forward to discuss at Christie’s Education later this month.
The price of female artists seems to be growing. Already this year we have seen five world records for female artists in Old Master Paintings, and in October 2018, Jenny Saville became the highest earning living female artist after her work “Propped” went for just under £10m.
Definitely. My bets are on a record for the Cecily Brown at Christie’s and the Jenny Saville at Sotheby’s, especially after what happened last October. I am also really looking forward to seeing how the younger artists do, as they are proving very in demand so early on in their career, and both did hugely well at the auction that benefitted the Studio Museum in Harlem.
I think if you sideline women on their own and create a separate sale for them, then it could be seen as gimmicky. It’s best to have them amongst their male peers to reflect the market in its true light.
I wish for equality. The fact that there is a surge in women artists now should enable an equal market in the future, especially with the rise of women being at the top of their game and also much more avid collectors.
Lot 1
Jordan Casteel (b. 1989)
Patrick and Omari
signed, titled and dated ‘Jordan Casteel 2015 “Patrick & Omari”‘ (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
71 7/8 x 56 1/8in. (182.6 x 142.5cm.)
Painted in 2015
Estimate: £40,000-60,000
Lot 11
Cecily Brown (b. 1969)
Night Passage
signed and dated ‘Cecily 1999’ (lower left); signed and dated ‘Cecily Brown 1999’ (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
100 x 109¾in. (254 x 279cm.)
Painted in 1999
Estimate: £1,900,000-2,500,000
Lot 25
Joan Mitchell (1925-1992)
Blue Michigan
signed ‘Mitchell’ (lower right)
oil on canvas
51 x 63 5/8in. (129.2 x 161.6cm.)
Painted in 1961
Estimate: £2,800,000-3,500,000
