An artwork by Jackson Pollock showcasing the artist’s famous painted movements and patterns achieved a remarkable sales milestone at a New York auction on Monday, selling for $181.2 million US. Titled “Number 7A, 1948,” this piece, a renowned drip painting by the American abstract expressionist, greatly surpassed Pollock’s previous auction record, as reported by Christie’s Auction House.
The focal point of the auction, “Number 7A, 1948” was described as a groundbreaking work for the artist. This captivating oil and enamel painting on raw canvas, measuring over a meter in height and more than three meters in width, was quickly sold for $181,185,000 to an undisclosed buyer after intense bidding lasting less than seven minutes.
The high-profile sale followed a 10-day exhibition at Christie’s Rockefeller Center venue, attracting nearly 20,000 art enthusiasts eager to view the Pollock and other pieces on display. Pollock created “Number 7A, 1948” when he was 36 years old, in a barn at his Long Island residence near East Hampton, according to Christie’s. While most of his drip paintings ended up in museums, this particular piece was the largest remaining in private ownership.
The artwork was among 16 modern pieces from the estate of the late S.I. Newhouse, the media magnate and Condé Nast co-owner who passed away in 2017, that were auctioned that evening. Alongside Pollock’s work, Constantin Brancusi’s sculpture “Danaïde” also surpassed the $100 million mark, selling for $107.6 million.
The auction of 20th-century artworks from the Newhouse collection, which included pieces by prominent artists such as Picasso, Mondrian, Miro, Warhol, and Johns, resulted in all 16 lots being sold for a total of $631 million, including auction fees. Christie’s co-head of the 20th Century Evening Sale, Paige Kestenman, expressed satisfaction with the lively bidding and client engagement throughout the event.