NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s announces the sale of Photographs in New York on 2 October 2019, offering a broad overview of the medium’s history with examples spanning from the 1840s to contemporary works (total pre-sale estimate: $6,000,000 – 9,000,000). The auction will include iconic property by historically significant artists in the category from Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Weston to Dorothea Lange and Robert Frank alongside contemporary artists from Richard Misrach and Vik Muniz to Larry Sultan and Peter Beard, among others.

Photographs will also include a spotlight section of works by Helmut Newton from the Seventies, Eighties, and Nineties as well a grouping of Andy Warhol Polaroids featuring 20th century Pop icons including Diana Ross, Jerry Hall, Grace Jones, Truman Capote, and Bianca Jagger.

Additionally, a special selection of fifty-four works—photographs, as well as artist portfolios and special editions—by forty-nine artists will be sold to benefit Aperture Foundation with proceeds supporting the non-profit’s purchase of a new permanent headquarters in New York. Works included in this portion of the sale are by Diane Arbus, Nan Goldin, Robert Mapplethorpe, Alison Rossiter, Meghann Riepenhoff, Hank Willis Thomas, and others, all of which were generously donated by artists, collectors, gallerists, and Aperture board members (collection estimate: $600,000 — $772,000).

Darius Himes, International Head of Photographs, comments: “Christie’s Photographs is very proud to have been chosen to work with the Aperture Foundation on a sale in support of their capital campaign, with proceeds going to support the purchase of a building in New York for the furtherance of their vital mission. Aperture has long been regarded as a nexus for the dissemination and education of photography through their influential international journal and a decades-long, world-renowned publishing program. Assisting with their capital campaign for a new permanent home is a supreme honor.”

Chris Boot, Executive Director, Aperture Foundation, added: “As Executive Director of Aperture since 2011, I have felt a great sense of gratitude and responsibility to our extended community of readers, students, patrons, and of course to the photographers, especially those who have been part of Aperture for decades. This special auction would not be possible without the generosity of these artists, as well as the philanthropic collectors, gallerists, and board members who make up the growing Aperture community and continue to champion the mission of our original founders. With the tremendous support and expertise of Christie’s, we look forward to reaching our goals, building on this unprecedented photography legacy, and seeing where the next generation of talent takes Aperture.”

Aperture
For over six decades, through its not-for-profit publishing, public programs, and exhibitions, Aperture’s bold vision has shaped the course of photography. Founded in 1952 as a quarterly magazine by Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, Barbara Morgan, Nancy and Beaumont Newhall, Minor White, and others. In 1965 Aperture began publishing books, its first with legendary photographer Edward Weston.