Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn (1964) fetched $195 million at auction.
Photo: Christie’s
The Artful Life: 6 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week
From a blockbuster Andy Warhol sale to monumental Les Lalanne sculptures on view at Kasmin in New York
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987), Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen. Photo: courtesy of christie's
1. Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe Painting Sells for $195 Million
On Monday, Christie’s sold a stunning Marilyn Monroe portrait by Andy Warhol for an eye-watering $195 million, making it the most expensive piece of American art ever sold. Missing its pre-sale estimate by $5 million, the 1964 canvas has also taken the title of priciest 20th-century work of art, eclipsing the 1955 sale of Pablo Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O), which sold for $179.4 in 2015. Created using a labor-intensive process that Warhol rarely utilized, the 40-square-inch piece was last owned by late Swiss art collector Thomas Ammann, who acquired it from Condé Nast chairman Si Newhouse. Bloomberg reported that the new owner is mega-gallerist Larry Gagosian, while proceeds will go to Ammann’s charitable foundation. —Geoffrey Montes
Installation view of “Les Lalanne: Au Grand Air” in the Kasmin Sculpture Garden. Photo: Photography by Diego Flores. © 2022 Les Lalanne / Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris
2. Monumental Les Lalanne Sculptures Go on View in New York
Spring has finally sprung in New York. To celebrate the longstanding connection between art and nature, three large-scale bronze sculptures by the late French artist duo Francois-Xavier and Claude Lalanne have been installed in the Kasmin Sculpture Garden on the roof of the gallery in the city’s Chelsea neighborhood. Titled “Les Lalanne: Au Grand Air,” the presentation comprises two large-scale bronze sculptures by François-Xavier Lalanne, Sanglier de Villepinte (2006) and Lapin à Vent de Tourtour (2007), and one major piece by Claude Lalanne, Pomme d’Hiver (2008). A public opening will be held on Thursday, May 12 from 6 to 8pm at 514 West 28th Street, where additional works by the pair are displayed in the gallery. —Lucy Rees
Time Owes Me Rest Again, (2022) by Chistine Sun Kim Photo: Hai Zhang, Courtesy of the Queens Museum
3. Queens Museum Gala Honors Christine Sun Kim and Tremaine Emory
To mark its golden anniversary, the Queens Museum will honor multidisciplinary artist Christine Sun Kim and fashion designer Tremaine Emory this Thursday at its 50th Anniversary Gala. The event will benefit the museum’s ongoing programming, which engages children and adults of the multilingual community and those with special needs. Kim’s newest installation, a mural titled Time Owes Me Rest Again, embodies the institution’s commitment to being inviting and accessible by incorporating the artist’s own visual language, text, graphics, and ASL. The evening will be filled with delicious bites from local restaurants, special performances, and a paddle raise to support the museum’s impactful programing. —Stefanie Li
Boden vertical chandelier by David Weeks Studio for Roll & Hill. Photo: Courtesy of Roll & Hill
Boden four-light horizontal chandelier by David Weeks Studio for Roll & Hill. Photo: Courtesy of Roll & Hill
4. Lighting Designer David Weeks Unveils First Collection with Roll & Hill
Designer David Weeks’s striking lighting installations regularly grace remarkable interiors conjured by such icons of the industry as Nicole Hollis, Olson Kundig, and Elena Frampton, or illuminate captivating public spaces, such as the Future Perfect’s Casa Perfect in Los Angeles. On May 12, Weeks is launching his first collection with Roll & Hill; called Boden, the array includes horizontal and vertical chandeliers, sconces, and a sinuous desk lamp. Crafted by the Brooklyn-based studio using delicately carved slices of polished brass, these minimalist forms cast an ethereal glow. —Jill Sieracki
L'Abeille in New York's TriBeCa. Photo: Nicole Franzen
5. Newcomer L’Abeille Creates a Buzz in TriBeCa with Its Elegant Bistro Menu and Atmosphere
L’abeille, a new French dining experience in New York’s TriBeCa neighborhood, brings a light and airy quality to haute cuisine with both its decor and menu. Started by a team of veterans from Joël Robuchon and Per Se, the restaurant strikes the perfect balance between warmth and elegance. Take for instance the lobster with vanilla dressing, nutmeg, and rosemary or the scallop crudo, with beets and gazpacho—both sparkle with layers of interesting flavors that come together beautifully. Every dish on both the seasonal six-course prix-fixe and the à la carte menu, by executive chef and partner Mitsunobu Nagae, manages to come across as both a true delicacy and something you’d be excited to eat every night, reflecting its roots in the French trend of bistoronmy. The chic-but-casual interior achieves a similar effect with design by Marta Carvalho, who combined wide plank wood floors with cozy green velvet seating for an elevated industrial ambience. Throughout there are references to the name, which means bee in French, such as a cocktail called the A Sleepin’ Bee and the orange with honey ice cream, and meringue dessert. No wonder the newcomer is already creating quite a buzz. —Jacqueline Terrebonne
Rome, 4th century AD. Emperor Constantine II. Turquoise. Guy Ladrière Collection. Photo: Benjamin Chelly
Egypt, 2nd century BC. Cleopatra I, Sardonyx cameo on modern gold ring. Guy Ladrière Collection. Photo: Benjamin Chelly
6. Engraving Takes Center Stage in New Exhibition at Paris’ L’École School of Jewelry Arts
From intricate rings to small-scale sculptures, engraving has been a practice featured in some of the most beautiful artworks throughout history. In a new exhibition titled “Engraved Gems” hosted by L’École School of Jewelry Arts, jewelry, cameos, and intaglios spanning centuries will be on display courtesy of Guy Ladrière’s private collection. Not only are these pieces simply impressive to behold, but they also tell an important story about how this historical practice has shaped the creation of gems, jewelry, and artwork. The exhibition will be on view from May 12 through October 1, 2022. — Shelby Black
Cover: Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn (1964) fetched $195 million at auction.
Photo: Christie’s
