The end of June is always an exciting time in the London art world - when collectors from across the globe fly into the British capital to see what fabulous works of art are going under the hammer around Mayfair. This month, Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Bonhams and Phillips will all be presenting their summer auctions, featuring high value works emerging from private collections onto the auction block. Mustard took a look at the recently published auction catalogues to see which of the top lots we are keeping an eye on.
Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary Evening Auction (27 June 2023)
Lot 151: Saint Bartholomew, Exquisite Pain (2007), Damien Hirst
Estimate: £600,000 - £800,000
Hirst’s silver sculpture looks to the story of Bartholomew the Apostle, who was famously skinned alive for his Christian beliefs. He is often portrayed with his skin and a knife, perhaps most famously in Michelangelo’s The Last Judgement and in the sculpture St Bartholomew Flayed in the Duomo di Milano. Hirst continues this tradition with his own interpretation, in which the martyr holds scissors rather than a knife, in an allusion to Edward Scissorhands.
Gruesome yet striking, Hirst has made versions in gold, such as that installed in St Bartholomew the Great Church in West Smithfield, and in bronze. When one of the large bronze editions went under the hammer at Sotheby’s in 2015, it sold for below estimate at £280,000. It will surely be a nail biter to see if this silver edition meets or even exceeds expectations.
Christie’s 20th/21st Century London Evening Sale (28 June 2023)
Lot 66: Such a Perfect Day (2020), Javier Calleja
Estimate: £400,000 - £600,000
Spanish artist Javier Calleja has seen a huge increase in demand in recent years for his paintings of big-eyed, youthful self-portraits. The artist’s current record for a London auction is £670,000 for Don’t take it all to heart (2018) at Sotheby’s last March. Given that this acrylic work is on a much bigger canvas, Christie’s may be poised to earn the artist’s new UK auction record when the hammer comes down on Wednesday.
Bonhams Post-War and Contemporary Art (29 June 2023)
Lot 108: Congestion Charge (2004), Banksy
Estimate: £1,200,000 - £1,800,000
Banksy’s canvases are always a highlight when included in a contemporary auction. This work is from the street artist’s famous Vandalised Oil series, featuring copies of Old Masters and Impressionist paintings, but reimagined for today’s political and cultural climate. Part of fashion designer Sir Paul Smith’s collection since 2004, this is the first time Congestion Charge has appeared at auction. Given its relevance and intrigue, this work is sure to fetch an impressive result at New Bond Street on Thursday evening.
Phillips 20th Century to Now (30 June 2023)
Lot 107: Untitled (AR 18-13) (2018), Ayako Rokkaku
Estimate: £30,000 - £50,000
This lot showcases one of the Japanese artist Ayako Rokkaku’s signature cardboard acrylic paintings. Her kawaii-inspired works have proven popular on the auction market, especially in London. When Phillips sold a Rokkaku painting last March with the same estimate, it achieved a staggering £310,000. This is certainly one to watch.