LONDON.- Dream Deferral by American artist Mark Bradford leads
Bonhams Post-War & Contemporary Sale on 29 June 2017 at Bonhams New Bond Street, London. The work’s estimate is £1,000,000-1,500,000.
Mark Bradford, whose work currently hangs in the United States Pavilion at the 2017 Venice Biennale, is one of the most sought-after artists on the contemporary scene. Born and raised in Los Angeles, the artist discovered his keen interest in art relatively late, only enrolling at the California Institute of Art in 1991 when he was 30 years old. After the completion of his Masters degree, Bradford’s rise to international prominence came quickly.
For Bradford, abstraction is the entry point through which he can examine the social and political flux of a time and place. In Dream Deferral, the essence of a bustling urban environment is reflected in a glimmering, abstract map, formed by torn shreds of salvaged paper and advertising scraps, billboard posters and hairdressing endpapers. The complex collage is reworked by sanding, painting, tearing and layering.
The title of the work references the poetry of Langston Hughes (1902-1967), one of the leading lights of the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes’ poems celebrate the energy and culture of Harlem, while identifying the struggles and plight of the neighborhood’s largely African-American population.
Bonhams Director of Post-War and Contemporary Art, Ralph Taylor said, “Following the success of his acclaimed Venice Biennale show, Mark Bradford is in high demand from institutions and private collectors alike. We anticipate there will be a great deal of interest and competition from around the world for this exceptional work, which so beautifully captures the vibrancy of 21st century LA.”
Other highlights include:
• One of the finest examples from his enamel series, Untitled, 1991 by Christopher Wool is estimated at £850,000-1,250,000.
• Lenin, 1986 by Andy Warhol is estimated at £650,000-750,000.
• Red Brick School Building, Willesden, Spring by Leon Kossoff was painted in 1981 at the height of the artist’s career. It is estimated at £520,000-720,000.
