Abstract Art Top Sales Results, Second Quarter 2015

Jul 28, 2015

A quarterly snapshot of the top abstract art auctions results: The second quarter of 2015 saw impressive results for abstract art at auction, with auction giants Christie’s and Sotheby’s leading the pack with several major post-war and contemporary sales.

The top result of the quarter was Mark Rothko’s No. 10, which sold for $81,925,000 at Christie’s Post-War and Contemporary sale on 13 May. This sale also saw a number of other high hammer prices for abstract art, including: Franz Kline’s Steeplechase, which fetched $21,445,000; Robert Ryman’s Bridge, which fetched $20,605,000 (the second highest result of the quarter for a living abstract artist); and Robert Rauschenberg’s Johanson’s Painting, which fetched $18,645,000.

Christie’s “Looking Forward to the Past” sale was also scene to several impressive results for abstract paintings, including the fourth highest hammer price of the quarter for Rothko’s No. 36 (Black Stripe), which sold for $40,485,000, and Jean Dubuffet’s Paris Polka, which fetched $24,805,000.

Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auction on 12 May saw the second and third highest results of the quarter for abstract art, Rothko’s Untitled (Yellow and Blue) ($46,450,000) and Cy Twombly’s Untitled ($42,750,000) respectively.

The highest result for a living abstract artist of the quarter was also attained during this sale, with Gerhard Richter’s Abstraktes Bild fetching $28,250,000. Sotheby’s also saw several staggering results at its Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale on 24, at which Kazimir Malevich’s Suprematism, 18th construction sold for $33,842,820.

Featured image: Photo credit Sotheby's