Francis Alÿs - Modern & Contemporary Art Day Sale London Friday, October 11, 2024 | Phillips
  • Provenance

    David Zwirner, 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 of a Renowned Private Collection

171

Untitled (Study for Cityscape)

signed, titled and dated 'Study for Cityscape n. 3 1993-4 F Alys' lower right
oil, graphite and masking tape on vellum
sheet 24.4 x 27.5 cm (9 5/8 x 10 7/8 in.)
Executed in 1993-1994.

Estimate
£15,000 - 20,000 

Sold for £13,970

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Simon Tovey
Director, Head of Day Sale, London
+44 7502 428 688
stovey@phillips.com

 

 

Modern & Contemporary Art Day Sale

London Auction 11 October 2024