LONDON.- Christie’s will host an exciting series of public exhibitions, events and auctions from today until 18 October in London coinciding with the Frieze Art Fair. The leading highlights of the public exhibition are celebrated masterpieces by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Gerhard Richter, none of which has been seen before in the UK. These works will be offered at the evening auction of Post-War and Contemporary Art in New York on 10 November 2010 and have a combined value in excess of $80 million.

The Post-War & Contemporary Evening Auction and The Italian Sale on 14 October at 6.30pm will offer 51 and 45 lots accordingly and will include an extremely strong section of photography, and the most important work by Damien Hirst to be offered at auction since September 2008 (estimate: £2.5 million to £3.5 million).

Francis Outred, Head of Post-War & Contemporary art, Christie’s Europe : “This week in London is one of the most important and vibrant in the global art calendar. We will be showing a truly exceptional public exhibition at Christie’s which includes three hugely important works never before seen in this country; Andy Warhol’s ‘Big Campbell’s Soup Can with Can Opener (Vegetable)’; Roy Lichtenstein’s ‘Ohhh...Alright…’; and Gerhard Richter’s ‘Zwei Kerzen‘, together with the auction preview for Thursday’s auction. We look forward to opening our doors and welcoming art lovers to Christie’s in London.”

Exhibition of major highlights from the November auctions in New York
Exhibition: 10 to 14 October
Christie’s will exhibit 3 masterpieces of Post-War art to the public for the first time in the United Kingdom. With a combined estimate in excess of $80 million the three leading highlights of the exhibition are Big Campbell's Soup Can with Can Opener (Vegetable), 1962, by Andy Warhol (1928-1987) (estimate: $30 million to $50 million) (illustrated left); Ohhh...Alright…, 1964, by Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) (estimate: in the region of $40 million); and Zwei Kerzen, 1982, by Gerhard Richter (b.1932) (estimate: $12 million to $16 million). Further highlights include Untitled, 1987, by Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) that is offered from the collection of the late Dennis Hopper (estimate: $5 million to $7 million), as well as works by Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne and Mark Rothko.

Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Auction
Exhibition: 10 to 14 October
Auction: 14 October at 6.30pm
The highlight of the week, the Post-War & Contemporary Evening Auction will offer 51 lots with a combined estimate of £15,950,000 to £22,710,000. The auction is led by I am become death, shatterer of worlds, the largest sized butterfly painting to have been executed by Damien Hirst (b.1965). The most important work by the artist to be offered at auction since Beautiful Inside My Head Forever, the artist’s solo auction in London in September 2008, it is expected to realise £2.5 million to £3.5 million. Over 5 metres wide, the title reflects the words uttered by J. Robert Oppenheimer following the detonation of the Atomic bomb.

The Italian Sale
Exhibition: 10 to 14 October
Auction: 14 October - immediately following the Post-War & Contemporary Evening Auction
The annual auction dedicated to 20th century Italian art will offer 45 lots with a combined estimate of £14,263,000 to £20,188,000. Presenting works created by many of Italy’s most renowned 20th and 21st century artists, a leading highlight is Cavaliere, a very rare work by Marino Marini that was conceived in 1951, one of the best years in the artist’s career. It is expected to realise £1.2 million to £1.8 million.

Post-War & Contemporary Art Day Auction
Exhibition: 10 to 14 October
Auction: 15 October at 2pm
The Post-War & Contemporary Day Auction will offer 206 lots with a combined estimate of £7,085,500 to £10,027,500 and with individual estimates from £10,000. The auction will present a selection of works on behalf of The Royal College of Art, who are seeking to raise funds for the third and final phase of the College’s campus in Battersea, south west London, including the opportunity to have a portrait executed by the Chapman Brothers (estimate: £15,000 to £20,000).

Multiplied
Contemporary Editions Fair
Exhibition: 15 to 18 October at Christie’s South Kensington
Christie’s will host an exciting new fair in the field of contemporary art editions. 35 galleries will gather at Christie’s South Kensington and showcase a selection of the most challenging, cutting-edge work being produced today. Exhibiting a wide range of publishers under one roof, Christie’s aim to help them promote their businesses and the artistic talent that they support. Contemporary publishers and gallerists representing established artists such as Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin will exhibit alongside many as yet unknown and emerging talents - see The www.multipliedartfair.com for further details.