A masterpiece by the renowned artist Jackson Pollock, showcasing his signature painted swoops, swirls, pours, and drizzles, achieved a remarkable sales milestone at a New York auction on Monday, fetching a staggering $181.2 million US. The artwork, known as “Number 7A, 1948,” a quintessential drip painting by the American abstract expressionist, nearly tripled his previous auction record, as reported by Christie’s Auction House.
The focal point of the auction, “Number 7A, 1948,” hailed as a groundbreaking work by the artist, is an enchanting oil-and-enamel on raw canvas piece, measuring over a meter in height and more than three meters in width. In a whirlwind bidding frenzy lasting less than seven minutes, the artwork was sold to an undisclosed bidder for $181,185,000.
The high-profile sale followed a 10-day exhibition of the Pollock piece and other artworks at Christie’s Rockefeller Center, attracting nearly 20,000 eager visitors. Pollock created “Number 7A, 1948” at the age of 36, just before his passing, inside his barn at his Long Island residence near East Hampton, according to Christie’s. While most of his drip paintings found homes in museums, “Number 7A, 1948” stood as the largest privately-owned piece.
Part of a collection from the late media magnate S.I. Newhouse, the auction featured 16 modern artworks, including pieces by prominent artists such as Picasso, Mondrian, Miro, Warhol, and Johns. The sale, which included a sculpture by Brancusi that also exceeded the $100 million mark, culminated in all 16 lots being sold for a total of $631 million, inclusive of auction fees.
“We were thrilled to witness the enthusiasm of both our team and clients, and we were delighted by the lively and participative bidding throughout the event,” remarked Paige Kestenman, co-head of the 20th Century Evening Sale at Christie’s.
