Modest Success at Christie's Cheers Art World

Hockney breaks record as auction house sells $93.7M

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted May 14, 2009 6:32 AM CDT

(Newser) – Christie's contemporary auction in New York last night went better than expected, selling $93.7 million worth of postwar art—double the result of its rival Sotheby's the night before. The top lot was a 12-foot panorama by British painter David Hockney, which sold for $7.9 million, a record for the artist. But while the art world was cheered by last night's result, a recovery is still far away; at last year's spring sale, Christie's sold more than three times as much.

David Hockney's painting "Beverly Hills Housewife" is on display, right, during an auction during the Post-War and Contemporary Art evening sale at Christie's Wednesday, May 13, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Christie's employee Pilar Ordovas, from Spain, poses for photographs beside the David Hockney painting 'Beverly Hills Housewife' at offices of the auction house in London, Monday March 23, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, file )

David Hockney's painting "Beverly Hills Housewife" is on display before an auction during the Post-War and Contemporary Art evening sale at Christie's Wednesday, May 13, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Modest Success at Christie's Cheers Art World

Hockney breaks record as auction house sells $93.7M

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Modest Success at Christie's Cheers Art World

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

art market • contemporary art • art • Christie's • David Hockney • auction • art auction • Jay-ZTV

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Liz Taylor's Wardrobe, Warhol Fetch Huge $2.6M

Hollywood icon's haute couture auctioned off

Liz Taylor Gem Sale Smashes Records

7 world records fall at $116M sale of fabled collection

Lichtenstein Painting Fetches $43M

It's a record for the late pop artist

At Yard Sale: McCartney Letter Seeking New Beatle

Now at Christie's; may fetch $11K

Warhol Self-Portrait Fetches Record $38.4M

Private bidder prevails after 'longest lot in history'

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