Shortlist 9 - Robert Longo: Two works
April 13th and April 16th
Sold at Sotheby’s (London) on April 13th
Robert Longo, Study for Luther, 2016
Ink and charcoal on vellum
Signed, titled and dated on lower left
12 ¼ x 20 7/8 inches (image sheet)
26 ¾ x 34 ¼ inches (including matt and frame)
Estimate: 25,000 to 35,000 GBP
($34,250 - $47,950)
My recommendation: Bid to 40,000 GBP ($54,800)
$68,500 (including premium)
Result: $60,417.00 (includes premium)
**Conversion Rate : 1.37 Dollars to 1 British Pound
Sold at Phillip’s (London) on April 16th
Robert Longo, Study for Silver Head, 2004
Ink and charcoal on vellum in artist’s frame
14 x 22 inches (image)
27 7/8 x 34 ¾ (including matt and frame)
Signed, titled, inscribed, dedicated and dated on lower edge
Estimate: 30,000 to 40,000 GBP ($41,100 to $54,800)
Recommendation: Bid to 40,000 GBP (hammer) / $54,800 (hammer)
Result: (including premium): 75,600 (GBP) / $103,572
**Conversion Rate: 1.37 dollars to 1 British Pound.
Artist’s Profile
For 40 years, American-born Longo has been painting and drawing black and white, minimalist images - figures in space. A prominent member of the Pictures Generation, (others include Cindy Sherman, John Baldessari, Richard Prince and Laurie Simmons), Longo investigates the impact that images have on how we view the world and ourselves.
Longo’s auction record is right around $2 million, and his large scale charcoal drawings will sell for that amount or more.
His recent show at Deitch LA featured 10 monumental works, depicting images from our country’s collective consciousness of the past several years. He’s been represented by Metro Pictures since the early 80s, but with that gallery recently announcing its closure, the artist is poised to join one of the global megadealers, which will significantly help his market grow and his prices rise. I can easily see a near future (5-7 years from now) where all his large works sell for 1 million and up, therefore pricing works like these comfortably in the $100,000 to $200,000 range.
My Take
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.