A masterpiece by Jackson Pollock showcasing the artist’s famous painted swirls, drips, and pours set a remarkable sales record at a New York auction on Monday evening, fetching a staggering $181.2 million US. Known as “Number 7A, 1948,” this iconic drip painting by the American abstract expressionist nearly tripled Pollock’s previous auction sales record, as reported by Christie’s Auction House.
The focal point of the auction, “Number 7A, 1948,” considered a groundbreaking work for the artist, captivated bidders with its mesmerizing oil-and-enamel on raw canvas composition. Measuring nearly a meter in height and over three meters in width, the artwork was swiftly acquired in less than seven minutes of intense bidding for $181,185,000 by an undisclosed buyer.
The high-energy auction followed a 10-day public exhibition at Christie’s Rockefeller Center, attracting almost 20,000 visitors eager to admire the Pollock masterpiece and other featured artworks. Pollock created “Number 7A, 1948” at the age of 36, just before his passing, inside his Long Island barn near East Hampton.
Among the 16 modern artworks auctioned from the private collection of the late S.I. Newhouse, a media mogul and Condé Nast co-owner who passed away in 2017, was Pollock’s masterpiece. The sale also included pieces by renowned artists like Picasso, Mondrian, Miro, Warhol, and Johns, culminating in a total of $631 million from all 16 lots, including auction fees.
Christie’s co-head of the 20th Century Evening Sale, Paige Kestenman, expressed satisfaction with the enthusiastic response from both the team and clients, noting the lively and engaged bidding throughout the auction.