Phillips May auction of Latin American Art is one of the pillars of New York City’s Latin American art scene.
Phillips is known for its contemporary focus. The house has been gaining stature under the direction of Head of Sale Kaeli Deane. Ms. Deane learned her craft working for Mary-Anne Martin, the New York dealer who created the auction market for Latin American art at Sothebys.
Phillips May Auction of Latin American Art 2017
Phillips May auction of Latin American art is on public view Saturday-Wednesday, May 20-24. The auction is Wednesday, May 24 at 2pm.
The auction includes both Latin American-born artists and Europeans who escaped the turmoil of World War II by migrating to Latin America and became part of the art scene there.
Auction Highlights
Carmen Herrera (Cuban, 1915) Untitled, 1971
Rufino Tamayo (Mexican, 1899-1991), Tres amigos, 1987
Lygia Pape (Brazilian, 1927-2004), Book of Night and Day, 1963-1976
Leonora Carrington (English-Mexican, 1917-2011), Pastoral, 1950
Gabriel Orozco (Mexican, 1962), Samurai Tree 6C, 2006
Alfredo Volpi (Italian-Brazilian, 1896-1988), Banderinhas com mastro, circa 1970
Wifredo Lam (Cuban, 1902-1982), Untitled, circa 1943
The Carmen Herrera piece is lovely. It’s so simple and very New York. Though Ms. Herrera is Cuban, she has long been a New Yorker. She is 101. Can you imagine having lived through the last hundred years? Carmen Herrera had a major retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art last year. There is an exhibition of her work at Lisson Gallery in Chelsea through June 10.
Lygia Pape “Livro noite e dia” (Book of Night and Day), 1963-1976. Courtesy of Phillips.
Lygia Pape currently has a retrospective at the Met Brauer. Their larger installation of this series is stunning. Pape is one of three major Brazilian contemporary artists of the 1960-70s generation. The Met retrospective is increasing interest in her work.
Part of Auction Benefits FLORA ars+natura
FLORA ars+natura is a non-profit foundation in Bogotá, Colombia that promotes art at the intersection of art and nature. It is led by José Roca, former Curator of Latin American Art at the Tate museum, and co-curator of the 27th Bienal de São Paulo, Brazil in 2006.
Maria Fernanda Cardoso “Seahorse Circle” 2003. Courtesy of Phillips
Works by Los Carpinteros, Pedro Reyes, Maria Fernanda Cardoso, and others have been donated by the artists to benefit FLORA.
Other Artists at Auction
David Alfaro Siqueiros (Mexican, 1896-1974)
Hélio Oiticica (Brazilian, 1937-1980)
Remedios Varo (Spanish-Mexican, 1908-1963)
Gego (German-Venezuelan, 1912-1994)
Mira Schendel (Swiss-Brazilian, 1919-1988)
Carlos Cruz-Diez (Venezuelan, 1923, age 93)
Olga de Amaral (Colombian, 1932)
Beatriz Milhazes (Brazilian, 1961)
Vik Muniz (Brazilian, 1961)
Vik Muniz “Jackie” 2005. Courtesy of Phillips.
Vik Muniz is one of the few contemporary Latin American artists whose work appears regularly at auction. His work is simply wonderful. Originally a sculptor, Muniz began recreating works from art history using unconventional materials and photographing them. Jackie is made from diamonds. Vik has a Latin cleverness about him and a big sense of humor.
For more information, visit www.phillips.com