Phillips’ New Now Auction
Auction viewing: 28 November – 4 December 2024
Auction: 4 December 2024, 1pm GMT
Phillips
30 Berkeley Square
London
W1J 6EX
Phillips is poised to captivate the art world once again with its New Now auction, set to take place in London on December 4. With over 170 lots spanning the 20th and 21st centuries, this vibrant sale juxtaposes the works of celebrated blue-chip artists—Keith Haring, Eddie Martinez, Gilbert & George, Tracey Emin, and Damien Hirst—alongside a remarkable selection by Marcel Broodthaers, drawn from the esteemed Herbig Collection.
In keeping with the spirit of discovery that defines New Now, the auction also amplifies the voices of contemporary rising stars. Notable among them are Joseph Yaeger, whose auction debut earlier this year marked a promising ascent; Ariana Papademetropoulos, whose ethereal visions reinterpret traditional iconography; Francesca Mollett, Harminder Judge, and Rebecca Ackroyd. The full catalogue, now available online, will also be on display at Phillips’ Berkeley Square galleries from November 28, culminating in the live auction on December 4.
Glass Slipper, 2018
Estimate: £12,000 – 15,000
Image courtesy of Phillips
Louise Simpson, Phillips’ Head of New Now, London, Associate Specialist, said, “We are delighted to unveil the highlights of our December sale, a dynamic celebration of 20th century and Contemporary art. This season’s offering showcases the exciting breadth of the middle market, from cutting-edge creations by artists including Joseph Yaeger, Ariana Papademetropoulos, and Francesca Mollet to important works by renowned Contemporary names such as Keith Haring, Frank Bowling, and Damien Hirst. The auction embodies the innovative spirit of New Now and underscores our commitment to presenting a vibrant and diverse selection. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our London galleries to experience this carefully curated selection of works firsthand.”
Acrobats, 1986
Estimate: £180,000 – 220,000
Image courtesy of Phillips
Headlining the Sale: Keith Haring’s Acrobats
Anchoring this electrifying sale is Keith Haring’s Acrobats, a rare and dynamic enamel-coated aluminium sculpture from 1986. Created at the zenith of his career, the piece embodies the kinetic energy and rhythmic pulse of Haring’s visual lexicon. Featuring two vibrant figures—one in orange, the other in blue—stacked in a precarious yet harmonious balance, Acrobats captures the tension and equilibrium that defined Haring’s bold narratives. Rooted in the urban vibrancy of New York’s street culture and nightlife, Haring’s unmistakable style bridges the raw immediacy of graffiti with the gravitas of high art.
Unexpress the expressible, 2021
Estimate: £8,000 – 12,000
Image courtesy of Phillips
Rising Talent and Fresh Perspectives
True to its name, New Now also celebrates the freshest voices in contemporary art. Among the standouts is Los Angeles-born Ariana Papademetropoulos, whose dreamlike, atmospheric works explore the surreal beauty and fragility of the everyday. Her piece, Glass Slipper, originally exhibited at London’s Soft Opening gallery in 2018, invites viewers into an idyllic yet subtly distorted Californian interior. With her “watermark paintings,” Papademetropoulos layers domestic scenes with organic, almost psychedelic effects, conjuring a tension between the real and the artificial.
Musée d’Art Moderne – Département des Aigles, 1969
Image courtesy of Phillips
Joseph Yaeger, another rising talent, continues to command attention after his impressive auction debut at Phillips’ Modern & Contemporary Art Evening sale in October. Alongside Yaeger and Papademetropoulos, the works of Francesca Mollett, Harminder Judge, and Rebecca Ackroyd signal a generation redefining the boundaries of contemporary art.
From the bold strokes of established masters to the intimate nuances of emerging voices, Phillips’ New Now auction promises to be a show-stopping auction.
Phillips’ New Now Auction will be on view from 28 November 2024 to 4 December 2024, with the auction starting on 4 December 2024 at 1 PM GMT.
©2024 Phillips
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