R. H. Quaytman (B. 1961)
Distracting Distance, Chapter 16 (2010)
33 x 52 inches
Oil, silkscreen, and gesso on wood
Signed and dated on reverse
Estimate: $30,000 to $40,000
Recommendation: Bid up to $60,000
Result: $35,000 (hammer) on 10/6/20
Interested in R.H. Quaytman?
Artist Profile
Conceptual painter, photographer, printmaker and sculptor; Boston-born R.H. Quaytman works in clearly defined series, that are always connected to the space in which they are exhibited. The above work comes from her 16th chapter which was made for the Whitney Biennial of 2010. In this series, the artist created 9 works inspired from Edward Hopper’s A Woman in the Sun, a masterpiece in the Whitney’s permanent collection that was painted in 1961, the year Quaytman was born. In this work, like the Hopper, Quaytman deals with space, light, and perspective with the above lot creating kinetic and optical effects. R.H.Quaytman is the type of artist you will love to talk about (or lecture) with your friends.
Artist’s Market
The above painting is a very large example for the artist, and would have sold for between $150,000 and $250,000 5 years ago, when she had a series of excellent auction results. Currently she is represented by Gladstone Gallery, a blue chip shop, and Miguel Abreu also in NYC, her longtime dealer. She had a major US show at LA MOCA and is in many prestigious museum collections. In other words, she is here to stay. This work is a gorgeous example of the artist’s abstract practice, and is the perfect size to be the centerpiece of any room. Sotheby’s estimate is conservative and I expect the work to sell for more. To get it all in, for under $100,000, would be a great buy.