On 15th May, the auction house Phillips de Pury & Co. in New York will begin two sessions dedicated to Contemporary Art, which will conclude on 16th May with the latest returns. We will be helping to showcase the two sales which amount to about 370 lots, among which are some of the most famous stars of the contemporary art world. Of the most noteworthy pieces in the catalogue is lot 111, “Self Portrait”, a marble sculpture by Jeff Koons belonging to the Sonnabend Gallery and estimated at 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 dollars. One can also perceive Koon’s poetry in this masterpiece, as with all of his artistic productions. The American artist became famous for his works, which are often of huge dimensions, and inspired by the kitsch style, or rather they draw on an art that aims to be superficial and theatrical sentimental imitations with a tendency towards rather mawkish and pathetic creative tones.     
In the New York sale other Koon works will also be showcased: “Jim Bean –Caboose” (estimated at 1,200,000 – 1,800,000 USD) and “New Shelton Wer/Dry 10 Gallon” (estimated at 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 USD).
Besides these Jeff Koons works, the Phillips de Pury & Co. auction house will put artworks by Damien Hirst on sale that are by now known within the art market including “Amphotericin B” from 1993 valued at 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 dollars, “Since the Majority of me Rejects – the Majority of you – Vision” which will start at an initial estimate of 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 dollars and “Untitled aaa” estimated at 800,000 – 1,200,000 dollars.
The New York auction houses’ selection is also characterised by the presence of two works by the painter and American graphic artist Jean Michel Basquiat. Lot 125 “Untitled”, is extraordinarily beautiful, executed in 1987 (estimated at 2,000,000 – 3,000,000 USD) and even more extraordinary is “Untitled (Fallen Angel)” from 1987, which will be presented to the public in the auction rooms valuing 8,000,000 – 12,000,000 million dollars.
Leafing through the Contemporary Art catalogue, Phillips de Pury’s selection of masterpieces executed by world famous artists who are well embedded within the economic system can be noted. Among these, we find Gerhard Richter with “Abstraktes Bild 610-1”, but also Richard Prince with the marvellous “Untitled (Portrait)” executed in 2007  (estimated at 1,000,000 – 1,500,000 USD), Takashi Murakami with “Superflat Monogram” (estimated at 700,000 – 900,000 USD) and Anish Kapoor with “Untitled, 2001”, a work that came from the Massimo Minini Gallery in Brescia, that begins at an estimate of 800,00 – 1,200,000 dollars.
Of all the artworks that will be presented during the auction, let us not forget “Couple in Bed” by John Currin (estimated at 500,000 – 700,000 USD), a truly interesting work that shows the typical pictorial “classicism” by this American author who enjoys exploring collected art approximating pornographic art, enlightening explicit scenes with the filter of a beautiful image.
And no less precious is: “Exhibit” by Luc Tuymans (estimated at 500,000 – 700,000 USD), “Tumbling Heads” by George Condo (estimated at 300,000 – 400,000 USD), “Gregory in the Pool” by David Hockney (estimated at 350,000 – 450,000 USD) and “John Squires” by Elizabeth Peyton (estimated at 200,000 – 300,000 USD).