Jean Michel Basquiat
Case 2
CoCo 144
Crash
Dondi
Flint 707
Keith Haring
Lady Pink
Phase 2
Kenny Scharf
Tracy 168
13/6/2000
Graffiti at auction
NYC's Puck Building, New York
Guernsey's will conduct first major sale focused on the history of unique urban art form
Works by: Jean Michel Basquiat, Case 2, CoCo 144, Crash, Dondi, Flint 707, Keith Haring, Lady Pink, Phase 2, Kenny Scharf, Tracy 168 and more...
The Graffiti art movement was spawned in New York City in the late
1960's, spread throughout the world and remains a vital genre
displayed in museums and discussed on the pages of leading pop
cultural publications universally. Interestingly, there has never been a
major auction devoted to Graffiti and related urban arts... until now! The
first true auction reflecting on the hip hop generation and inner city
culture will be held on June 14th and 15th at NYC's Puck Building.
Guernsey's will be presenting a comprehensive auction of hundreds of
lots of paintings, drawings, sculpture and constructions, photography
and ephemeral materials (piece books, movie art, etc.) reflecting on the
last thirty years of Graffiti. The renowned Bronx Museum of the Arts is
involved with the project and will be benefiting from a gala preview held
in its honor. In an effort to have the auction match the excitement of
the art, many of the lots will be sold without a minimum reserve.
The majority of the important Graffiti artists - from the movements
beginnings to the present - will be represented in this massive auction
where small works on paper by Jean Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring
can be found hung side by side twenty foot murals on canvas created
by a melange of artists. Names that became legendary for appearing
on the streets, subways, and galleries of the City - Case 2, CoCo 144,
Crash, Dondi, Flint 707, Lady Pink, Phase 2, Kenny Scharf, Tracy 168
and Zephyr will be offered as will rare photographic prints by legendary
photographers Henry Chalfant, Martha Cooper, Herb Migdol and Jack
Stewart who preserved the vision of lost works for all time. Indeed, the
spirit of Graffiti is seen clearly expressed in unique auction lots like the
wooden entrance door to one of New York's East Village galleries
where the hippest artists of the day "tagged" their presence.
Guernsey's is preparing a comprehensive auction catalogue
documenting and depicting the work to be sold. To acquire the
catalogue ($35 in the U.S.; $55 international) or learn more about this
unprecedented event, contact the auction house at 212-794-2280.
Faxes may be sent to 212-744-3638.
Bidding on line will take place on icollector.com.