Top 10 Most Expensive Pieces of Art Sold in 2016

art

 

What makes a piece of art truly great? For some it’s the artist and for others it’s the piece itself. Still, for others it’s a combination of the two. It is difficult to put a finger on what makes something truly artistic, as well as determining a piece of art’s true value. After all, beauty and value are very subjective in the art world. However, the following paintings have definitely found beauty (and value) in the eyes of their beholders.

No. 10 – Kerry James Marshall- Plunge (1992) – $2.1 million

Plunge by Kerry James Marshall kicks off the list. This acrylic and paper collage on canvas is symbolic of the slave trade era. It garnered just north of $2 million at Christie’s.

No. 9 – Frida Kahlo – Two Nudes In A Forest (1939) – $8 million

This piece has seen a huge increase in value over the past two decades as twentieth century female artists have grown in popularity. While it once sold for $150,000 in 1989, this painting just fetched $8 million in 2016.

No. 8 – Richard Prince – Runaway Nurse (2006) – $9.7 million

This painting sold for just $6.8 million five years ago, but it has increased in value by nearly $3 million over that time period. Purchased for $9.7 million in 2016 by Yusaku Maezawa, this contemporary piece from 2006 is part of Richard Prince’s “Nurse” series and has earned a lot of attention from both those in and outside of the art world.

No. 7 – Sam Francis – Summer #1 (1957) – $10.4 million

Sam Francis has seen several of his pieces increase in value in the last few years, including this postwar/contemporary piece from 1957.

No. 6 – Agnes Martin – Orange Grove (1965) – $10.7 million

Perhaps the buyer of this painting loves oranges. It was expected to garner about $6-$8 million at auction but ended up fetching close to $11 million.

No. 5 – Claude Monet – Le bassin aux nympheas (1919) – $27 million

While most of Monet’s pieces are actually housed in museums, this one went on the block this year and fetched $27 million at auction.

No. 4 – Mark Rothko – No. 17 (1957) – $32.6 million

Coming in at number four is this symbolic postwar piece by Mark Rothko, which sold for more than $32 million at Christie’s earlier this year.

No. 3 – Jean-Michel Basquiat – Untitled (1982) – $57.2 million

This contemporary piece from 1982 is one of the top attractions in the neo- expressionist art genre, and it continues to increase in value. Twelve years ago it sold for just $4.5 million. But just like Runaway Nurse, it was purchased by Yusaku Maezawa for more than $57 million.

No. 2 – Peter Paul Rubens – Lot and His Daughters (1613-14) – $58 million

This is the second most expensive Rubens painting ever, trailing only his “Master of the Innocents.” This is an extremely old painting as well as extremely valuable.

No. 1 – Pablo Picasso – Femme Assise (1909) – $63.4 million

Picasso is not for everyone, but there’s no doubt his paintings have fetched some of the highest amounts of money in the world, including in 2016, which saw his Femme Assise sale for just over $63 million. Much of the value comes from this painting being credited with introducing a new form of art. And of course, it’s a Picasso.

You also might like the article Art as an Investment

Follow GROCO on Facebook

Posted in
3 Keys to Being a Great Girl Dad

3 Keys to Being a Great Girl Dad

Madeline Anderson on how to build strong father-daughter relationships: the story behind “Girl Dad”. Madeline Anderson, Author and Founder of The Girl Dad Network discusses the four stages to the art of successful multi-generational living on Alan Olsen‘s American Dreams Show.    A Realization and a Mission Growing up in Huntington Beach, California, Madeline Anderson enjoyed what she…

Gary Klaben four stages to successful multi-generational living

Successful Multi-Generational Living in 4 Stages

The art of multi-generational living: an interview with Gary Klaben. Gary Klaben: Principal at Coyle Financial, West Point grad, Author, and he possesses firsthand experience in multigenerational living. Gary discusses the four stages to the art of successful multi-generational living on Alan Olsen‘s American Dreams Show. In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of multi-generational living is gaining renewed interest.…

AI-Powered Leadership

Transform Your Leadership: Ultimate Guide to AI-Powered Leadership

Artificial Intelligence has transcended its role as a technological advancement to become a strategic asset in the executive toolkit through AI-Powered Leadership. With the advent of machine learning, natural language processing, and data analytics, AI enables leaders to make more informed, data-driven decisions. The integration of AI-Powered Leadership practices signifies a paradigm shift in how…

Ethos, AI, and Internet Governance with Fadi Chehadé

Ethos, AI, and Internet Governance with Fadi Chehadé

Fadi Chehadé, Founder & Managing Partner Ethos Capital LLC, former ICANN CEO & Sr. Advisor to World Economic Forum‘s Executive Chairman, discusses AI, internet governess power, and Ethos on Alan Olsen‘s American Dreams Show.   This week on American Dreams, we sit down with Fadi Chehadé as he shares his journey from starting as a church custodian in LA to…