Christie’s Presents Two Latin American Art Sales, Starting Friday

Christie’s upcoming Latin American art sales feature over 180 lots with a combined low estimate of over $10 million. Online bidding starts on Friday, September 27, with the live auction set to take place at Christie’s New York headquarters on Wednesday, October 2.

Christie’s upcoming live Latin American Art sale features “exceptional works of art by the foremost modern and contemporary artists from across the region,” said the auction house in a press release. Three works by Fernando Botero will headline the auction: Cazador (estimated at $800,000-1,200,000), Reclining Woman (estimated at $500,000-700,000), and Still Life with Onions (estimated at $300,000-500,000). The contemporary Colombian painter and sculptor, who died last year, is known for his signature style of “Boterismo,” which enlarges and exaggerates people and figures. Other live auction leaders include Leonora Carrington and Diego Rivera.

Latin American Women Artists at Christie’s

Kristen France, Head of the Department of Latin American Art at Christie’s, said, “This season, across our live and online sales, we are particularly excited to present a strong group of works by some of the foremost female artists of the 20th century.” Two works by the British-Mexican Surrealist Leonora Carrington will help lead the live auction: Pensador (estimated at $600,000-800,000) and Faet Fiada (estimated at $500,000-700,000) Carrington’s popularity and market value have surged in recent years. In May, a new auction record was set when a Carrington painting fetched a staggering $28.5 million after a bidding war at Sotheby’s New York. The winning bid exceeded the pre-sale estimate and quadrupled the artist’s previous record.

Also among the highlights of Christie’s Latin American Art sales is the Cuban-American artist Ana Mendieta. “We are particularly pleased to present [Mendieta] following the very successful sale of her work in the Rosa de la Cruz Collection Evening Sale in May,” said France.

Christie’s online-only sale showcases a variety of Latin American art from across the region, ranging from the colonial era to the present day. A selection of 17th- and 18th-century Latin American artworks are among the sale’s highlights, along with important pieces from the Farber Collection of Contemporary Cuban Art, one of the most renowned private collections of its kind.

The Latin American Art sales coincide with Christie’s Contemporary New York early autumn sales series. The Latin American Art Online sale opens for bidding on Friday, September 27 at 10:00 A.M. EST. Bidding closes on Tuesday, October 8 at noon EST. Held at Christie’s New York headquarters, the live Latin American Art sale takes place on Wednesday, October 2 at 11:00 A.M. EST. Art from both sales is currently on view in Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries through Tuesday, October 1.