A masterpiece by Jackson Pollock showcasing his famous painted curves, swirls, drips, and splatters set a remarkable sales record at a recent New York auction, fetching a staggering $181.2 million US. Known as “Number 7A, 1948,” this iconic drip painting by the American abstract expressionist nearly tripled his previous auction sales record, as reported by Christie’s Auction House.
The focal point of the auction, “Number 7A, 1948,” was described as a groundbreaking piece for the artist, capturing attention for its mesmerizing oil-and-enamel on raw canvas composition. The artwork, measuring nearly a meter in height and over three meters in width, was sold for $181,185,000 to an unidentified bidder in less than seven minutes of intense bidding.
Preceding the auction, a 10-day public exhibition at Christie’s Rockefeller Center location showcased the Pollock piece and other artworks, attracting nearly 20,000 visitors. Pollock created “Number 7A, 1948” at the age of 36, only a few years before his passing, inside his barn at his Long Island residence near East Hampton.
Part of the private collection of the late media mogul S.I. Newhouse, the auction included a variety of modern artworks, such as Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Joan Miro, Andy Warhol, and Jasper Johns. Alongside the Pollock piece, Constantin Brancusi’s sculpture “Danaïde” also exceeded the $100 million mark, selling for $107.6 million.
The evening sale of 20th-century artworks from the Newhouse collection, which comprised 16 lots, generated a total of $631 million, including auction house fees. Christie’s co-head of the 20th Century Evening Sale, Paige Kestenman, expressed satisfaction with the enthusiastic response from both the team and clients, noting the active and spirited bidding throughout the event.
