Artcurial « Urban Art » auction – February 4, 2015

Paris – On 4 February 2015, at 19h, Artcurial will present its annual sale dedicated to Street Art. Eagerly anticipated by the contemporary art world, the Urban Art sale has become more than a simple auction, and now offers, over a period of nearly a week, a series of events, book signings, performances and editorial publications, centred round the public exhibition before the sale.

« Since the first sale dedicated entirely to urban art in 2008, Street Art has become an internationally renowned artistic movement, celebrated by the art market. Artcurial was a pioneer in the development of this speciality and we have had the opportunity to work with and support a whole generation of artists. The 9th sale, a truly artistic and cultural event, reflects this commitment to contemporary art through a programme of performances organised during the public viewing. We expect large numbers of enthusiasts and collectors to come and see the events that we have arranged. » explained Arnaud Oliveux, director of the Urban Art department at Artcurial.
The sale will include nearly 200 lots, divided into two main sections : early graffiti and the new urban art scene.
The historical section covers the early days of the movement and the New York graffiti artists. This includes Seen, Futura and Ramellzee. Artcurial will offer a major work from this period, created by Dondi White in 1983, Dark Continent of Kings (estimate : 25 000 – 35 000 € / 33 000 – 46 000 $). This is one of the most important pieces of American graffiti, and is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic works by this artist. It was reproduced on the cover of the catalogue for the first museum exhibition of urban art in France, at the Musée des Monuments Français, in 1991.
The section focussing on the contemporary urban scene will present a selection of work by key French and international artists such as JR, Shepard Fairey, Dran (whose murals are currently on show in the exhibition Inside in the Palais de Tokyo), and Conor Harrington. For the first time, Artcurial will offer a work by KAWS, the artist represented today by the Perrotin gallery, who has a huge following in the US and Asia, Control (estimate : 120 000 – 150 000 € / 160 000 – 210 000 $). Despite working primarily on canvas today, he remains strongly associated with street art, having started his career as a graffiti artist in the 1990s. KAWS is known for subverting the imagery on New York billboards. It was at this time that he developed his stylistic vocabulary, with characteristic imagery inspired by the world of cartoons and comics, whose characters’ eyes were marked with crosses (closed voluntarily by some stitches). He draws inspiration from a wide range of popular culture.
In the previous sale, in February 2014, Artcurial confirmed its leading position in the market for Street Art, achieving 8 world records at auction, including for the artists JR and JonOne. With close to 350 people attending, the sale realised 1 370 000 € / 1 812 825 $, with 80% of lots sold.

About Artcurial

Founded in 2002, Artcurial confirmed its position as the leading French auction house in 2014, breaking for the first time the international duopoly of the Anglo-Saxon auction houses. It covers all the major specialist fields, from the Fine and Decorative Arts to Lifestyle. The auction house achieved an overall sales total of 192 M€ in 2014, representing an increase of 50% in 3 years. With a strong international bias, Artcurial maintains its presence abroad with offices in Milan, Vienna and Brussels, and travelling exhibitions in the United States and Asia.

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction
Sale date : Wednesday 4 February 2015 at 19h00
Viewing : From Saturday 31 January 2015 To Wednesday 4 February 2015

Artcurial
7, rond-point des Champs-Elysées 75008 Paris

Contact Artcurial :
Jean Baptiste Duquesne
Chargé des relations presse
+ 33 1 42 99 20 76
jbduquesne@artcurial.com

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Kan – Le Printemps Canadien (97x146cm) – 19618 Dots

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Mark Jenkins – Bom.k – Blo

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Blo – Gris1

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Gris1

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Brusk

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Bom.k – Blo – Gris1

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Dran

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Brusk – Seth – Mark Jenkins – Bom.k

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Quik – Cope2 – Shaz Bojorquez – JR – Kan – Brusk – Seth

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Anders Gjennedstad – Rero – Chaz Bojorquez – JR – Clet – Kan

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Retna

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Jonone – Babs – Seen – Subyone – Mist – Zeky – Jeff Soto

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Zenoy – Jonone – Yeemd

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Seth

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Evol – Kaws

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Zevs – Vhils – Shepard Fairey

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Shepard Fairey

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : JR

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Hush – Roa

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Inti Castro – Conor Harrington – Hush

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Inti Castro

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Schoony

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Thomas Canto

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Jef Aerosol

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Nunca

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : The London Police

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Shepard Fairey

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Swoon – Aurel Rubbish – Mr. Brainwash – Shepard Fairey – Os Gemeos

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : RCF1

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Gilbert1

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Rero

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Horfe

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Yeemd

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Katre

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Tilt

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Jonone – Shoof

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Jonone

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Alexone

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Paul Insect

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Cornbread – Seize Happywallmaker – Retro Graffitism – Blek le rat – Rime & Persue – Nick Walker – Sten & Lex – C215 – Speedy Graphito

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Monkey Bird

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Speedy Graphito

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Guy Denning

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Mist

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Jeff Soto – Bando – Babs – Jonone – Yeemd – Mad C

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Jeroen Erosie

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Crash – Seen – Futura 2000 – Blade – A-One – Kool Koor

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Dondi

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Crash

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Seen

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Rammellzee

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Evol

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Kaws

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : JR

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Kan – Zevs

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Hopare

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Alex

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Fyrze – Moze – Frez – Xare – Edwin Goodwrite

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Mambo

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Brok & Alex

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Pure Evil

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Barry McGee

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Jonone signing his book

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Live painting by Bom.k, Brusk & Gris1

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Live painting by Bom.k, Brusk & Gris1

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Live painting by Bom.k, Brusk & Gris1

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Live painting by Bom.k, Brusk & Gris1 featuring Arnaud Oliveux

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction : Live painting by Bom.k, Brusk & Gris1

Artcurial « Urban Art » auction – February 4, 2015 - Kan / DMV.