COLOGNE.- This year's spring sale of Modern & Contemporary Auction, organised at the Palais Oppenheim in Cologne, convinced international buyers with a selection of works fresh to the market and of high quality, which was reflected in the excellent overall result of more than € 4,3 million; this corresponds to more than double the result achieved in the inaugural auction of the previous year.

This is a success story that we would like to build on in September: From 1 – 7 September 2022, the Modern & Contemporary Auction at Sotheby’s Cologne will again feature a series of paintings, works on paper and sculptures by well-known national and international artists ranging from modern to contemporary art, including an outstanding group of colourful works from a prominent Dutch private collection, amongst them a large-scale work by Katharina Grosse as well as a dynamic painting by the German artist Walther Stöhrer.

The highlight of the auction is an impressive painting by Albert Oehlen from 1985. In addition, the sale features three excellent works by renowned members of the ZERO and Nul groups - Günther Uecker, Heinz Mack and Jan Schoonhoven:

The Dutch artist Jan Schoonhoven is represented with a relief from 1970: R 70-41 is estimated at €140.000 - 180.000 and should attract collectors of abstract art.

Günther Uecker is one of the most important German artists. His monochrome works and nail paintings brought him worldwide fame and moved him into the league of the most expensive German artists of our time. The Düsseldorf artist will also be presented in the upcoming auction with one of his famous nail paintings: Reihung from 1962 captivates with its clarity and is estimated at €120,000 – 180,000. In April, Ohne Titel (Weißes Bild), an early work by Uecker, fetched €352.800, almost double its high estimate (estimate: €120,000-180,000).

A small aluminium relief by Heinz Mack is being offered in the auction: Lichtstruktur (Light Structure), estimated between €42.000 – 60.000.

Alongside works by the German post-war artists Konrad Klapheck and Günther Förg, other highlights from the field of contemporary art include two sculptures by the Düsseldorf artist Norbert Kricke, an important representative of the Informal Art movement, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year: Raumplastik (estimate: €40,000 - 60,000) and Flächenbahn (estimate: €20,000 - 30,000) have been part of an important European private collection for more than 30 years and will come to auction for the first time.

In the section for modern art, there will be a fine selection of wonderful expressive paintings, such as Alexej von Jawlensky's Still Life [Azalea] from 1936 (estimate: €30,000 – 50,000) or an early work Im Bois de St. Cloud, Paris from 1914 (estimate: €20,000 - 30,000) by Walter Dexel.

Above all, there will also be an exquisite selection of works on paper to discover, from Franz Marc and Lyonel Feininger to Erich Heckel and Hannah Höch. An outstanding example is a gouache by Georg Scholz Die Strasse from 1919 (estimate: €30,000 - 50,000), which impresses with its colourful abstract composition, stands out.

The Highlights-exhibition at Palais Oppenheim in Cologne starts as of 31 October until 6 September and is daily open for the public from 10am-6pm.