Sotheby's Latin American Art Evening Sale
Last night’s Evening Sale of Latin American Art at Sotheby’s in New York brought a total of $14,814,500, meeting pre-sale expectations (est. $14.5/19.8 million). The highlight of the evening was Les Abalochas Dansent Pour Dhambala, dieu de l'unité by Wifredo Lam which set a new record for the artist at auction when four bidders sent the price to $2,154,500 (est. $1.75/2.25 million). Les Abalochas was painted 1970 and once hung in the Cuban artist’s home in Italy. Other Lam highlights included an Untitled painting which sold for $470,500 (est. $400/600,000) and Femma from 1944 which fetched $374,500 (est. $250/350,000). In addition to Lam, at least seven other records were set for artists including Alejandro Otero and the 19th century artist Eugenio Landesio.
Carmen Melian, Head of Latin American Art at Sotheby’s said: “Tonight’s sale was in part an homage to Wifredo Lam and the record price achieved for the cover lot was well deserved. It is a very special painting that brought together many aspects of his life – Cubism, Surrealism, his Afro-Cuban heritage and his association with the avant-garde movement CoBrA. One of the high points of the evening was the section of 19th Century Mexican works – the quality was superb and sparked heated competition amongst Mexican collectors and many new records being set. Equally sought-after was the recently rediscovered panel by the father of abstraction in Venezuela, Alejandro Otero, who’s Coloritmo 9, also brought a record price.”
