LONDON.- Phillips announced highlights from the London Evening & Day Editions auction in January. Headlining the evening sale on January 17 are works from the prestigious Archive of Edition Schellmann, with the proceeds benefitting the ars publicata project. Notable highlights include Andy Warhol’s celebrated depictions of Queen Elizabeth II and Superman, as well as works by Rashid Johnson, Ed Ruscha, Mel Bochner, KAWS, Marc Chagall, and Banksy. The auction catalogue is now online and the preview opens for visitors in Phillips’ galleries at Berkeley Square from 11 January until the auctions on 17 and 18 January.
Rebecca Tooby-Desmond, Specialist, Head of Sale, Editions, and Auctioneer, said, “We are delighted to unveil highlights from our January Evening & Day Editions auctions, which feature an extraordinary and diverse selection of material. Highlights span Modern and Contemporary works, from Chagall’s romantic lithography, to Andy Warhol's iconic screenprints of Queen Elizabeth II and Superman, Keith Haring's captivating, sculptural Totem, and electronic works from Nam June Paik and Jenny Holzer. Last year, we marked a decade of the London Editions department revolutionising and redefining the editions category, achieving sales that not only question the conventional definition of the category but also showcase the extensive range and artistry involved in edition making. As we embark on the new year, we carry that momentum forward with an expanded sale calendar seamlessly blending traditional and online auctions. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our Berkeley Square galleries from 11 January for a preview of this dynamic and boundary-pushing auction."
Anne Schneider-Wilson, Senior International Specialist, Editions, said, “We are thrilled that our January auction includes works from the Archive of Edition Schellmann, with proceeds dedicated to supporting the ars publicata project. Demonstrating Schellmann's dedication to pushing the boundaries of edition-making, this collaborative sale follows a highly successful standalone auction in 2019, where our partnership with Edition Schellmann exceeded expectations, achieving £3,177,938—well beyond the pre-sale high estimate. We are privileged to once again have the opportunity to auction works from the Archive of Edition Schellmann, contributing to the important and pioneering initiatives of ars publicata. We look forward to presenting these exceptional works during our Evening & Day Editions preview and auction in January.”
The evening sale will be led by an exceptional group of works from the Archive of Edition Schellmann, sold to benefit the ars publicata project. Collaborating with some of the most significant artists of the 20th century, Jörg Schellmann has produced the most challenging and iconic editions through Schellmann Art. Founded by Jörg, Nanke and Pauline Schellmann, the ars publicata project is an online compendium of contemporary fine art editions, documenting the edition oeuvres of the world’s most significant contemporary artists. The Evening & Day Editions auction comprises 40 works from the Archive of Edition Schellmann, including very rare examples and unique colour variants ranging from £800 to £150,000. Highlights of this group include works by Keith Haring, Joseph Beuys, Andy Warhol, Donald Judd, and Robert Longo. Also included in this group are electronic works by Nam June Paik and Jenny Holzer.
In 1985 Andy Warhol started his Reigning Queens series, his largest portfolio of screenprints, featuring Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Queen Ntfombi Tfwala of Swaziland. The series paid homage to these female monarchs, emphasising Warhol's fascination with fame and consumer culture by appropriating their widely-circulated images. In a parallel exploration, Warhol's artistic tribute to Superman reflects his childhood connection to the superhero, turning it into a nostalgic time capsule representative of his formative years. This vibrant artwork captures Superman's iconic pose, celebrating the enduring American icon and exploring the intersections between art, personal experience, and cultural symbolism. Other notable works by Warhol, such as his Skulls series and his portrait of Mick Jagger, are also included in the sale, alongside unique Warhol trial proofs from the Archive of Edition Schellmann.
Renowned conceptual artist Rashid Johnson, born in Chicago and now based in New York, gained international acclaim for his distinctive portrayal of the African-American experience through abstract art. Anxiety, both as a symptom and a response to what Johnson terms as ‘post-blackness’, negotiates the tensions between celebrating blackness and rejecting its limitations. It permeates through much of Johnson’s works, and is shown here Untitled (Large Anxious Red). Johnson made a selection of works, including the present lot, titled the Untitled Anxious Red series after the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Three works by Ed Ruscha feature in the sale, including The End #1-#4. Signalling the closing moments of many classic Hollywood films, ‘The End’ has become a phrase synonymous with storytelling and cinema. In The End Ruscha explores the phrase through holographic panels, incorporating shifting tones and varying heights of gothic-style typeface. The series delves into Ruscha's fascination with both textual elements and the materiality of film, revealing scratches and dust spots on celluloid surfaces, occasionally suggesting malfunctions that challenge the facade of Hollywood perfection. The artist finds inspiration in architecture, everyday language, and popular culture. Ruscha is known for capturing and reinterpreting familiar themes, such as roadside gas stations or the 20th Century Fox logo. He frequently revisits these motifs, locations, or words over the years. Another work by Ruscha featuring the sale is Wen Out for Cigrets N Never Came Back, an iteration of which is currently on view in Ruscha’s landmark exhibition ED RUSCHA / NOW THEN, at the Museum of Modern Art until 13 January 2024.
