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"I am not interested in an illustrative statement that merely mirrors some of the social conditions... Political and social aspects should not be the primary concern: esthetic [sic] ideas should have preference."
—Norman LewisPainted in 1973, Eye of the Storm is a stunning example of Norman Lewis’ late “Black Paintings.” Having started his career as a realist painter before shifting his focus entirely to Abstract Expressionism, Lewis contributed in an essential way to the history of art as an African American artist. The color black is crucial in his body of work, serving as a starting-off point for his explorations of form and color. Despite modern political interpretations of Lewis’ Black Paintings, the artist continually ascertained that his use of the color was purely formal. Eye of the Storm invites the viewer into a deep atmospheric composition of blue passages, seamlessly integrated into a black background, that exemplifies the sensitive and subtle handling of color Norman Lewis mastered in his celebrated abstractions.i Today, his late paintings are housed in esteemed museum collections such as the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth.
Black Art and Abstract Expressionism
Like other first-generation Abstract Expressionist artists, Norman Lewis started as a Social Realist painter. Born in 1909 in Harlem, Lewis used realism as a way to combat racism, focusing on the lives and cultures of Black communities as his main subjects. By the mid-1940s, Lewis rejected politically-engaged figurative painting and transitioned to abstraction. It was during this time that he discovered, what he felt to be, the most effective way to pursue his artistic expression.ii The result was an astonishing oeuvre through which he explored the possibilities of color and form. By the 1950s, he was the only African American artist who had become a member of the first generation of the New York School; his work was included in the exhibition at the historic symposium at Studio 35 in 1950, the event where the term “Abstract Expressionism” was first established, alongside artists like Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, Robert Motherwell, Mark Rothko, and Franz Kline. Unlike the dynamic strokes of these peers, Lewis became known for his more subtle use of color.
In 1963, together with other artists like Romare Bearden and Charles Alston, he formed Spiral, an artist collective whose goal was to promote the art of Black artists in institutions which frequently left them out. As a part of these efforts, Lewis also spent years teaching at the Harlem Youth in Action and co-founded the Cinque Gallery, an art space to support African American artists. Throughout this time, he remained dedicated to abstraction, not figurative or narrative art. Unlike his fellow leader in Spiral, Romare Bearden, Lewis believed pursuing abstraction was the best way to assert his power as an African American artist, and that illustrating social conditions through narrative art was not an effective agent for change. It was this opinion that distinguished Lewis from both his fellow African American post-war artists, as well as his white Abstract Expressionist contemporaries. Having stood at the intersection of the Black Art and Abstract Expressionism movements, the artist is often, wrongly, not associated with the latter.iii
Frank Stella, The Marriage of Reason and Squalor II, 1959. The Museum of Modern Art, New York, Image: © The Museum of Modern Art/Licensed by SCALA / Art Resource, NY, Artwork: © 2022 Frank Stella / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Black Paintings
While the color black is present throughout Lewis’ practice, the artist’s so-called “Black Paintings” are characterized by their predominant use of the color. The color black possesses different meanings, and oftentimes expresses different emotions—serenity, depression, and sometimes, political anarchy. In art history, the color black also has different uses. For Ad Reinhardt, black signified the elimination of color. For Kazimir Malevich, black combined with red was associated with Communism, as seen in Black Square and Red Square, 1915. For Frank Stella, like Lewis, black served as a means best suited to explore compositional possibilities, as achieved in his renowned painting The Marriage of Reason and Squalor, II, 1959.iv Like Stella’s diagrammatic lines in this work, Lewis’ Eye of the Storm emphasizes linework in the paint ground. The present work could be interpreted, perhaps, as an illustration of a radar map for a hurricane; here we see areas of denser paint application contrasting with concentric, etched lines in the black ground, very similar in effect to the negative white lines presents in Stella’s work. In his own words, Lewis said “[I] wanted to see if I could get out of black the suggestion of other nuance of color, using it in such a way as to arouse other colors...This was my becoming...using color in such a way that it could become other thing.”v
i Michaela Lunz in Norman Lewis: Shades of Blackness, exh. cat., Bill Hodges Gallery, New York, 2022, p. 4.
ii Ibid.
iii Ibid.
iv David Carrier, “The Transcendent Power of Black in Norman Lewis’s Abstractions,” Hyperallergic, January 5, 2022, online
v Norman Lewis, quoted in Michaela Lunz, Norman Lewis: Shades of Blackness, exh. cat., Bill Hodges Gallery, New York, 2022, p. 4.Provenance
The Artist
Estate of Norman Lewis
Acquired from the above by the present ownerExhibited
New York, Bill Hodges Gallery, 25 Highly Important Paintings, Norman Lewis 1909–1979, an exhibition, May 23–July 11, 1998, pp. 52-53 (illustrated, p. 53)
New York, Bill Hodges Gallery, Norman Lewis: Shades of Blackness, November 18, 2021–January 29, 2022, pp. 7, 14-15 (illustrated, p. 15)Literature
Bill Hodges Gallery, Norman W. Lewis, et al., New York, 2017, pp. 22, 90 (illustrated, p. 22)
David Carrier, “The Transcendent Power of Black in Norman Lewis’s Abstractions,” Hyperallergic, January 5, 2022, online (illustrated)
Property of a Distinguished New York Collector
118
Eye of the Storm
signed "Norman Lewis" on the reverse of the original canvas
oil on canvas
51 1/2 x 87 1/2 in. (130.8 x 222.3 cm)
Painted in 1973.
Estimate
$500,000 - 700,000
Sold for $604,800
Annie Dolan
Specialist, Head of Day Sale, Morning Session
+1 212 940 1288
adolan@phillips.com
20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Morning Session
New York Auction 19 May 2022
101
Gerhard Richter
4.10.85 (3)
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $73,080
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102
Gerhard Richter
22.5.86 (2)
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $60,480
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103
Gerhard Richter
7.12.85
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $252,000
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104
Gerhard Richter
12.12.85
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $239,400
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105
Gerhard Richter
8.3.85
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $151,200
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106
Gerhard Richter
Nach 'Fallschirm' (After 'Parachute')
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $163,800
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107
Gerhard Richter
8.1.84 (1)
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $22,680
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108
Gerhard Richter
8.1.84 (2)
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $18,900
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109
Theodoros Stamos
Jewel of Memory
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $81,900
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110
Adolph Gottlieb
Two Figures
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $55,440
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111
Sam Francis
Untitled (SF88-399)
Estimate $150,000 - 250,000
Sold for $302,400
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112
John Chamberlain
The Vagabond's Prayer
Estimate $400,000 - 600,000
Sold for $378,000
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113
Sam Gilliam
With Blue and...
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
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114
Vivian Springford
Untitled
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $144,900
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115
Mary Heilmann
Yellow, Red + Blue Drawing
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $126,000
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116
Mary Heilmann
Le Mans
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $189,000
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117
David Smith
Main Pribilof
Estimate $300,000 - 400,000
Sold for $277,200
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118
Norman Lewis
Eye of the Storm
Estimate $500,000 - 700,000
Sold for $604,800
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119
This lot is no longer available.
120
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Untitled
Estimate $600,000 - 800,000
Sold for $877,000
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121
George Condo
Untitled
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $504,000
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122
Dondi White
Reign Man Cometh
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $44,100
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123
Jean Dubuffet
Mire G 67 (Boléro)
Estimate $180,000 - 250,000
Sold for $214,200
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124
Kenny Scharf
PRIMARYBLOBZ
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $214,200
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125
Kenny Scharf
DR. PURPLE
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $302,400
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126
Robert Indiana
LOVE (Violet Faces Red Sides)
Estimate $600,000 - 800,000
Sold for $724,500
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127
Robert Indiana
Picasso
Estimate $600,000 - 800,000
Sold for $1,058,500
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128
Jim Dine
The King of Patches
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $113,400
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129
James Rosenquist
The Serenade for the Doll after Claude Debussy, Gift Wrapped Doll #22
Estimate $120,000 - 200,000
Sold for $138,600
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130
Alex Katz
Untitled
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $403,200
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131
Andy Warhol
Portrait of Hans Preben Smith
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $201,600
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132
Richard Pettibone
Roy Lichtenstein, 'Seductive Girl', 1964 Purple-Yellow
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $69,300
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133
Richard Pettibone
Andy Warhol, 'Mao'
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $20,160
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134
Richard Pettibone
Andy Warhol, ‘Two Jackies', 1964
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $37,800
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135
Richard Pettibone
Andy Warhol, 'Scotch Broth Soup', 1962
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $32,760
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136
Richard Pettibone
Andy Warhol, 'Campbell’s Soup Can', 1962
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $37,800
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137
Jim Dine
Two Hearts (Due Cuori)
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $69,300
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138
Tom Wesselmann
Final Study for Kate Nude
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $115,920
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139
Peter Saul
Bush Over Baghdad
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $163,800
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140
Malcolm Morley
Aegean Crime
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $327,600
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141
Ed Paschke
Dumattica
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $16,380
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142
Robert Colescott
Crocodile in the Sewer
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $52,920
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143
Philip Guston
Untitled (Drawing from the Phlebitis Series)
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $88,200
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144
Larry Rivers
Last Civil War Veteran
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $47,880
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145
Andy Warhol
Gun
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $126,000
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146
Ed Ruscha
Statistical Significance
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $189,000
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147
David Hockney
The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven) - 17 April
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $277,200
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148
Jennifer Bartlett
In the Garden #108
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
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149
John Baldessari
Woman Looking at Plant (With Two Carrots)
Estimate $350,000 - 450,000
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150
Charles Ray
All my Clothes
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $170,100
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151
Vito Acconci
Modular Fluorescent Sofa
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
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152
John McCracken
IOS
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $151,200
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153
Brice Marden
Untitled
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $75,600
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154
Sol LeWitt
Wall Drawing #1023: Isometric form
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $151,200
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155
Sam Gilliam
Reef II
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $371,700
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156
Sam Gilliam
Shimmering Pisces
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
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157
Louise Nevelson
Rain Forest Column XXI
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $630,000
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158
Louise Nevelson
The Wedding Present
Estimate $300,000 - 400,000
Sold for $352,800
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159
Thierry De Cordier
Je Suis le Monde!
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $107,100
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160
John Chamberlain
Maquette
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $126,000
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161
Louise Nevelson
Cityscape
Estimate $35,000 - 50,000
Sold for $52,920
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162
Louise Bourgeois
Femme
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $352,800
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163
Louise Bourgeois
Untitled
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $100,800
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164
Alice Rahon
Main Street
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $44,100
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165
Alice Rahon
Dans la nuit du commencement
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $69,300
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166
Joseph Cornell
J. Eagels Autumnal - Spring
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $47,880
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167
Joseph Cornell
Isle of Children
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $63,000
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168
Joseph Cornell
Dovecote
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $63,000
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169
Joseph Cornell
Untitled
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
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170
Joseph Cornell
The Garden Party
Estimate $7,000 - 10,000
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171
Alexander Calder
18 works: (i-xviii) Untitled
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $56,700
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172
Jamie Wyeth
Duck, Fence, and Stump
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $44,100
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173
Giorgio Morandi
Natura morta
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $25,200
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174
Fernand Léger
Femme à l'écharpe (Mrs. Chester Dale)
Estimate $35,000 - 45,000
Sold for $50,400
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175
Pablo Picasso
Two works: (i-ii) Maternité
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $107,100
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176
Francisco Zúñiga
Desnudo de anciana
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $59,850
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177
Fernando Botero
Woman with Serpent
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $176,400
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178
Salvador Dalí
Head of Dante
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $100,800
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179
Édouard Vuillard
La pipe
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $35,280
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180
Armand Guillaumin
Vue de la pointe d’Ivry
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
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181
This lot is no longer available.
182
Fernand Léger
Untitled
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $44,100
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183
Georges Valmier
Untitled
Estimate $7,000 - 10,000
Sold for $11,970
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184
Georges Valmier
Untitled
Estimate $7,000 - 10,000
Sold for $6,930
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185
José Mijares
Lo concreto en rojo
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $50,400
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186
George Rickey
Inverted Column
Estimate $18,000 - 25,000
Sold for $40,320
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187
Larry Bell
9/11
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $11,970
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188
Suzan Frecon
Light & Earth
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $75,600
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189
Sam Gilliam
Untitled
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $88,200
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190
Louise Fishman
Door to the Studio
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $13,860
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191
Louise Fishman
Moment of Change
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $57,960
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192
Hermann Nitsch
Untitled
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $52,920
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193
Jules Olitski
Empress Love - 2
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $52,920
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194
Larry Poons
Untitled
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $157,500
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195
Ross Bleckner
Untitled
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $81,900
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196
Francesco Clemente
Ativiam
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $30,240
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197
George Condo
Etruscan Study
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $151,200
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198
John Wesley
Bonnets
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $37,800
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199
Ed Ruscha
So
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $119,700
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200
Andy Warhol
Two works: (i) Cabbage Patch Doll (Girl); (ii) Cabbage Patch Doll (Boy)
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $27,720
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201
Andy Warhol
Heinz Kosher Dill Pickles Jar with Alarm
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $18,900
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202
Andy Warhol
Three works (i-iii): Self-Portrait
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $50,400
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203
Gerhard Richter
Guildenstern
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $16,380
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204
Franz West
Untitled (Rasenmacher No. 80)
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $47,880
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205
James Lee Byars
Compositie
Estimate $6,000 - 9,000
Sold for $8,190
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206
Richard Artschwager
Untitled
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $37,800
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207
Wolf Kahn
Adams Barn
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $88,200
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