NEW YORK, NY.- Christie’s First Open sale of Post-War and Contemporary Art on March 7 will offer a stimulating selection of works of art including 45 lots coming from the Peter Norton Collection. First Open is the perfect opportunity for new and established collectors who are eager to discover emerging artists and ready to explore lesser-known works by famous artists. The sale will be preceded by a public exhibition at Christie’s Rockefeller Center Galleries from March 3 to 7.

Following the impressive results achieved by the first portion of the Peter Norton collection sold November 2011, which doubled its pre-sale estimate with a total of $30.2 million and set 15 world auction records; the First Open sale will present 45 works of art assembled over more than two decades by one of the most pioneering collectors, entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Many of the works represent the leading artists of the contemporary art world that Mr. Norton has supported since the inception of their careers including Janine Antoni, Sophie Calle, Chuck Close, Martin Creed, Wim Delvoye, Jim Hodges, Annette Messager, Mariko Mori, Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, Shirin Neshat, Catherine Opie, Cornelia Parker, Jim Shaw, Yinka Shonibare, Do Ho Suh, Fred Tomaselli, Kara Walker and Christopher Wool.

Among the array of highlights is a reimagining of an opulent nineteenth century Victorian parlor by Yinka Shonibare MBE. This rare large-scale installation explores the unsettling intersection of wealth, luxury, and colonialism. "The idea behind it is to draw a parallel with the relationship between the contemporary first-world and third-world countries. I want to show that behind excessive lifestyles there are people who have to provide the labor to make this kind of lifestyle happen" declared Yinka Shonibare. With his signature use of rich batik fabrics Shonibare scrutinizes the signifiers of national identity in the context of Britain's Imperial past. His perceptive depiction of the parlor of a wealthy Victorian gentleman speaks to the complicated and often symbiotic relationship between wealth, trade, nationalism and identity. By combining high art and popular culture in his distinctive way he is able to examine a different depiction of the way society functions. Victorian Philanthropist's Parlour, executed in 1996-1997 is estimated $120,000-180,000.

The sale also features Jim Hodges' brilliantly crafted tapestry Here's Where We Will Stay. This ethereal assemblage of diaphanous silk and chiffon fabrics is a delicate, yet striking work which plays with notions of memory to act as a receptacle for countless personal histories. Comprised of dozens of carefully sewn together headscarves and other pieces of fabric which the artist collected over a number of years, each section is infused with the story of the person who owned it and the life they led. By combining these into one large work, Here's Where We Will Stay becomes as much a document of social history as the traditional patchwork quilts and blankets that its form suggests (estimate: $ 400,000-600,000).

Another highlight is Work No. 204: Half the air in a given space, by Martin Creed, (estimate: $80,000-120,000). Martin Creed's exuberant installation examines our perceptions of space by filling a room with balloons and drastically altering one's physical experience of the environment, as well as exploring the relationship between sculpture and architecture. Conceptually precise, yet constantly shifting, the parameters of this work are continually changing and adapting to an infinite number of factors both environmental and human.

Auction March 7 10am - 2pm

Viewing March 3 10am - 5pm
March 4 1pm - 5pm
March 5 10am - 5pm
March 6 10am - 5pm
March 7 10am - 5pm

Christie’s New York, 20 Rockefeller Plaza