MEDIA ALERT
PHILLIPS ANNOUNCES HIGHLIGHTS FROM JULY SALE OF MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART IN NEW YORK
Public Preview Opens 9 July, Featuring Works by Robert Motherwell,
Richard Prince, Alex Katz, Helen Frankenthaler, and More
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Robert Motherwell The Irish Troubles, 1977–1981 Estimate: $200,000 – 300,000 |
Richard Prince The Song 2120 South Michigan Ave, 1989 Estimate: $200,000 – 300,000 |
Alex Katz Peter, 1995 Estimate: $40,000 – 60,000 |
NEW YORK – 25 JUNE 2025 – Phillips is pleased to unveil highlights from its upcoming Modern & Contemporary Art Auction, scheduled for 10AM ET on 16 July at 432 Park Avenue. The public is invited to preview the auction from 9–15 July, offering collectors and art enthusiasts the opportunity to experience the works firsthand.
The sale is led by Robert Motherwell’s commanding painted collage, The Irish Troubles (1981), a powerful example of the artist’s engagement with political conflict through poetic abstraction. Another top highlight, Richard Prince’s The Song 2120 South Michigan Ave. (1989), is a striking diptych from the artist’s iconic Joke series. Executed in acrylic, silkscreen ink, and graphite on canvas, the work exemplifies Prince’s exploration of the intersection between pop culture and fine art.
Additional highlights include Helen Frankenthaler’s Untitled (1980), a luminous watercolor and gouache on paper that showcases her signature soak-stain technique. Dominated by earthy browns and accented with touches of lilac, the composition reflects her ability to balance bold color with softness. Alex Katz’s Peter (1995) also features prominently — a portrait depicting gallerist Peter Blum, who played a pivotal role in supporting Katz’s early printmaking. Executed in oil on Masonite, the work captures Katz’s minimalist aesthetic and connection with the subject. Adding a burst of energy to the selection is Kenny Scharf’s Squirtz (2013–2021), a vibrant sculpture composed of enamel, spray paint, rhinestones, and cast fiberglass The piece brings Scharf’s signature blend of pop surrealism and cartoon whimsy vividly to life. Vaughn Spann’s Midnight Marauder (Marked Man) (2023), part of his powerful X series, confronts themes of racial profiling and personal trauma through bold textures and symbolic imagery. Finally, using the visual language of 19th-century European painting, Kent Monkman’s Recumbent Dandies Observe the Perils of the Games (2008) explores themes of colonization, sexuality, loss, and the Indigenous experience with a provocative and playful touch.
Phillips’ July Modern & Contemporary Art sale is just one of several events taking place during Phillips’ Summer on Park, an annual series of auctions, exhibitions, and Drops that celebrate summer in the city at Phillips’ Park Avenue galleries. From 25 July – 10 August, PhillipsX will present its Summer on Park 2025 exhibition featuring works by recent Dropshop artist Tom of Finland, Spanish contemporary artist Edgar Plans, and Portuguese street artist Vhils. More Summer on Park events will be announced in the weeks to come.
FULL CATALOGUE AVAILABLE HERE ON 2 JULY
Please see PDF for full press release.