Robert Longo (b. 1953)
Untitled (Mars, Full) (2004)
21 x 24 inches
Charcoal on black paper
Signed and dated on lower right
Auction House Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000
My Recommendation: Bid up to $25,000
Result: $28,000 (hammer) on 8/18/20
Interested in Robert Longo?
NOTE: WORKS ON PAPER SHOULD NOT RECEIVE DIRECT SUNLIGHT.
Artist Profile
For over 40 years, Longo has been painting and drawing black and white, minimalist images - figures in space. Planetscapes are some of his best known, and this is a fine example. A prominent member of the Pictures Generation (others include Cindy Sherman, John Baldessari, Richard Prince and Laurie Simmons), he investigates the impact these signifiers have on how we view both the world and ourselves. “My work is like ripping chunks of the world out and offering to the viewer to contemplate,” offers Longo on his own work. An established star, the work on page 63 is an example of a small study that sold at auction in the Fall of 2020. Bargains like these can still be had at auction from time to time.
My Take
Over the years, Longo has built a top-level collector base and his large works have reached the $1 million mark. As time goes on, I feel that his sleek, cool images will be a symbol of this digital and consumer age. Comparable works of this size have sold for $40,000 to $70,000 at auction and in galleries. A bid up to $25,000 or even a little more is a no-brainer.