Only a few days are left until Paris Photo (13th-16th November), the world’s leading fair in the field of photography, which gathers operators, experts, collectors and people passionate about photography from all over the world. An event created in 1997 by Rick Gadella, a Dutch publisher who managed to bring together at the prestigious Carrousel de Louvre a powerful mix of galleries specialised in contemporary artists who use the camera as their exclusive means of expression. In little time Paris Photo has become the first photographic fair-market in the world, owing to the high quality of its exhibitors, the originality of the concept (a balance between modern, contemporary and photography), its international scope and a discerning and enthusiastic public which is passionate about ancient and contemporary photography.

Contemporary Photographs held on 13th October 2008 at Christie’s New York venue totalled intakes for 1,020,250 dollars.  An interesting sale whose protagonists were the most emblazoned names of contemporary photography, such as David LaChapelle, Annie Leibovitz, Nan Goldin. Altogether 54 lots, almost all of them very important for their great aesthetic and artistic quality, executed by artists that have been appreciated for a long time in the economic-artistic system.
Among the highlights of the various pieces presented to the public in the saleroom were pictures by great artists who have marked the evolvement of international photography.  Among these we should mention for instance “Untitled (Snake Powder)” by Adam Fuss which, from a pre-sale estimate between 50 and 70 thousand dollars, sold for 50 thousand dollars or “Still Life (Candle)” by Louise Lawler, which from a valuation of 25-35 thousand dollars, sold for 50 thousand dollars.

translated by Giorgina Arcuri

On 15th May “Photographs” was held at Christie’s London, a great occasion for collectors of the category who are passionate about works by the most famous names in the history of photography, but also more contemporary artistic figures.
An interesting sale that, despite not achieving a great stir, presented 114 lots fetching 1,402,525 pounds with a 72% sale percentage.