PARIS.- Christie’s spring sale of Latin American art, which has traditionally been held in New York each May, will be held this year at Christie’s France in June, the firm announced. A week-long celebration of Latin American art will begin on June 5 with the opening of the pre-sale exhibition and will culminate on June 10 with a 6 p.m. evening sale in Christie’s saleroom on Avenue Matignon. François Curiel, Chairman of Christie’s Europe and Director of Christie’s France, will be the sale’s auctioneer. “After only two years of sales in France, Christie’s has established itself as the most successful auction house in this country," notes François Curiel, Chairman of Christie’s Europe. "Paris is now, along with New York, London and Hong Kong, one of the four capitals of the international auction market. We are very much looking forward to this sale in June, which highlights the worldwide internal cooperation that distinguishes Christie’s from other auction houses.” “At Christie’s, we continuously strive to explore innovative and exciting ways to expand our markets and grow our business,” said Marc Porter, Christie’s International Managing Director. “Holding this Latin American Art sale in Paris not only presents us with an opportunity to raise the international visibility of our Latin American Art sale, but also allows Christie’s France and our Latin American Art department to explore new markets.”

“Generations of Latin Americans, both artists and collectors, have enjoyed an ongoing romance with Paris, and their careers and lives were indelibly influenced by the years they spent in the City of Light,” said Ana Sokoloff, Head of Christie’s Latin American Art department. “The city’s link with Latin American art and culture is a natural one and we will soon announce an exciting selection for sale which will celebrate this relationship.” Many of Latin America’s most renowned 20th-century artists lived and worked in Paris, absorbing the influences of Cubism, Fauvism, and Surrealism. Diego Rivera befriended Pablo Picasso in Paris and experimented with Cubism during his 14-year stay in Europe. Chilean-born Roberto Echaurren Matta worked principally in Paris and was an active member of the Surrealists during the 1930s, as was Wifredo Lam, whose works are noted for reconciling his early Cuban influences with the European avant-garde. It was in Paris that Uruguayan Joaquín Torres-Garcia developed his symbolic, severely geometrical and two-dimensional Constructivist style. These artists, in turn, have influenced succeeding generations of artists from Latin America, many of whom go to Paris to work and study.

Christie’s elegant premises on Avenue Matignon are conveniently located between the Champs Elysées and Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré, in the heart of the well-known district of galleries and antique dealers on the Right Bank, in the 8th arrondissement. The original building was renovated to include extensive galleries and auction facilities, offices and warehouse space, resulting in 4,500 square meters of comprehensive, state-of-the-art public and office space. Last year, Christie’s sold the most expensive Latin American painting of the year with Matta’s Endless Nudes from the Seagram Collection, which sold for $1,687,500 in May.