An artwork by Jackson Pollock showcasing the artist’s famous painted swoops, swirls, pours, and drizzles set a stunning sales record at a recent New York auction. The piece titled “Number 7A, 1948,” a renowned drip painting by the American abstract expressionist, achieved a remarkable $181.2 million US, nearly tripling Pollock’s previous auction sale record, as disclosed by Christie’s Auction House.
The focal point of the auction, “Number 7A, 1948,” hailed as a groundbreaking work for the artist, is an oil-and-enamel on raw canvas creation measuring nearly a meter in height and over three meters in width. It swiftly sold for $181,185,000 to an undisclosed bidder after less than seven minutes of intense bidding during the auction. This sale followed a 10-day public exhibition at Christie’s Rockefeller Center, attracting around 20,000 visitors.
Pollock crafted “Number 7A, 1948” at the age of 36, just before his passing, inside his barn at his Long Island residence near East Hampton. Notably, while most of his drip paintings found homes in museums, “Number 7A, 1948” remained one of the largest works in private possession.
This particular artwork was part of a collection from the late S.I. Newhouse, the media mogul and Condé Nast co-owner who passed away in 2017. The auction featured 16 modern artworks from Newhouse’s collection, with pieces by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Joan Miró, Andy Warhol, and Jasper Johns. The sale of these artworks, including the Pollock piece and Constantin Brancusi’s “Danaïde” sculpture, collectively reached $631 million, including auction fees.
Christie’s co-head of the 20th Century Evening Sale, Paige Kestenman, expressed satisfaction with the auction outcome, noting the enthusiasm of both their team and clients, as well as the spirited bidding that characterized the event.
