Francis Alÿs - Contemporary Art Day Sale London Monday, June 29, 2015 | Phillips
  • Provenance

    Galeria Ramis Barquet, New York

  • 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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177

Untitled

1992
oil on canvas fragment, in painted wooden frame part
15 x 39.5 cm (5 7/8 x 15 1/2 in.)
Signed 'Francis Alÿs' on the reverse. This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Galerie Ramis Barquet, New York.

Estimate
£20,000 - 30,000 

Contact Specialist
Henry Highley
Head of Sale
hhighley@phillips.com
+ 44 20 7318 4061

Contemporary Art Day Sale

London Auction 30 June 2015 2pm