NEW YORK, NY.- In a strong sale at Bonhams Post-War and Contemporary auction in New York last night (November 15 at 5pm EST), Andy Warhol’s haunting portrait of Jackie Kennedy was the top lot, achieving $907,500, following enthusiastic bidding from around the world.

Among the other highlights was a special curated section of 11 Op Art works in Bonhams Post-War and Contemporary sale with all lots sold. It demonstrated a renewed interest in the market for works connected to this global movement. All the pieces in the sale were fresh-to-market, with impeccable provenance, many having been gifts from the artist to the owners or bought from the original exhibitions. The top lot for this section was Wojciech Fangor’s shimmering M35, 1970, which sold for $319,500, more than triple its estimate, setting a new world record for the artist.

Other works that achieved excellent results were Yaacov Agam’s New Year, 1967-68 which made $187,500 against an estimate of $30,000 – 50,000; Richard Anuszkiewicz’s vibrant painting, Untitled, 1976, that achieved $125,000 (estimate: $50,000 – 70,000) and Kobe II, a trailblazing work by Victor Vasarely from 1953-72, which achieved $175,000, against a low estimate of $150,000.

Dane Jensen, Director of Contemporary Art, Bonhams commented: “We saw intense interest in the Op Art section from collectors, particularly those who have previously acquired minimalist and color field works. As many of the pieces by these artists rarely arrive on the market in this condition, the interest was strong and global.”

HIGHLIGHTS

Andy Warhol, Jackie, sold for $907,500 (estimate $600,000-800,000)
Andy Warhol’s masterful Jackie, 1964, was painted the year following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The image of the First Lady was taken while she witnessed the swearing-in of her husband’s successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson.

“Jackie is as revolutionary now as it was when Warhol conceived it,” said Director of Contemporary Art, Jeremy Goldsmith. “The relevance and power of Warhol’s work continues to endure, and with its unrivalled provenance, this particular work is an outstanding piece from a tumultuous era.”

Wojciech Fangor's M35, 1970 sold for $319,500 (estimate $70,000-90,000), setting a new world record
Incorporating concentric, blurred rings of color and shade, M35, was estimated at $70,000-90,000, but made an astonishing $319,500, setting a new world record for the artist. Fangor’s exhilarating style emerged when, inspired by the artistic freedom that prevailed in Poland following the death of Stalin in 1953, he moved from his wartime figurative work into abstractions that hovered between color field painting and Op Art. His work was rapturously received in 1960s New York, where he was featured in several group shows at MoMA and was given a one-man exhibition at the Guggenheim in 1970. He attracted significant attention from critics – Clement Greenberg was intrigued by his paintings, while John Canaday of the New York Times described him as ‘the great romantic of Op Art’.

Two paintings from Op Art pioneer Victor Vasarely’s trailblazing black and white series also sold, one of which, Kobe II, 1953-72 made $175,000 (estimated $150,000-200,000). It was highly influential in the dissemination of Op Art techniques and ideas. Painted in 1953, Kobe II was conceived while Vasarely was drawing together his ideas for the Yellow Manifesto, which he released two years later at the ground-breaking Le Mouvement show at Galerie Denise René in 1955. Vasarely was intrigued by the natural optical illusion of the zebra’s stripes, and began experimenting with black and white abstractions inspired by the animal. Kobe II is culmination of these experiments and one of Vasarely’s earliest forays into Op Art, and sparked an artistic upheaval across Europe and the world.

Abraham Palatnik
Brazilian-born Abraham Palatnik also had a strong showing in the sale. Two spectacular reliefs by the artist, Progressão, (estimated at $20,000-30,000), and BR 8158, (estimated $15,000-25,000), attracted strong bidding before achieving $56,250 and $87,500 respectively. Palatnik emerged as an artist in the 1950s in Rio de Janeiro, quickly becoming one of the pioneers of Kinetic Art. His innovations are in many ways a response to the rapid industrialization he experienced in post-war Brazil.

Richard Anuszkiewicz, Untitled, 1976 ($50,000-70,000)
The American painter and sculptor continues to be considered a major force in the Op Art movement. Known for his vibrant compositions and unique relationship to color, his 1979 Untitled work performed strongly, estimated at $50,000-70,000 and selling for $125,000.