Francis Alÿs - 20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale New York Wednesday, May 17, 2017 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Gladstone Gallery, New York
    Acquired from the above by the present owner

  • Artist Biography

    Francis Alÿs

    Belgian / Mexican • 1959

    Born in Belgium, Francis Alÿs traveled to Mexico in 1986 as part of a French program to assist in the aftermath of the tragic 1985 earthquake, and has lived there ever since. Throughout his career, the artist has analyzed facets of everyday urban life using a variety of media including video, drawing, installation and public action. Sign Painting Project (1993-'97) is a prime example of the artist's interest in the sprawling urbanization of Mexico City. In this early series, Alÿs drew inspiration from professional Mexican sign painters (rotúlistas) who painted large billboard advertisements throughout the city. In response to these large colorful compositions, Alÿs employed a similar style in creating small-scale paintings of familiar objects and places.  Alÿs asked various rotúlistas to copy and enlarge his paintings, displaying his work and that of the rotúlista side-by-side. This series, like many of Alÿs' other works, illustrates the artist's concerns with such themes as collaboration, banality and originality.

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PROPERTY FROM A BELGIAN COLLECTOR

149

Lovers

(i) signed, titled, numbered and dated "#1 Lovers - 2001 - F. Alÿs" lower right
(ii) signed with the artist's initials and numbered "#2 - F." lower left

graphite and masking tape on vellum, diptych
(i) 13 1/2 x 8 in. (34.3 x 20.3 cm.)
(ii) 13 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. (34.3 x 24.1 cm.)

Executed in 2001.

Estimate
$15,000 - 20,000 

Sold for $23,750

Contact Specialist
John McCord
Head of Day Sale
New York
+1 212 940 1261

20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale

New York Auction 17 May 2017