NEW YORK.-Sotheby’s New York held its mid-season sale of Contemporary Art, which realized $13,080,208, well over the high estimate of $10.5 million. The sale was 81% sold by lot and 92% sold by value, with more than half of the sold lots exceeding their high estimate. Records were established for Steven Parrino, Allen D’Arcangelo, Robert Longo, and for works on paper by Sol Lewitt and Bridget Riley. The sale was the highest total ever achieved in this mid-season category.

Jennifer Roth, Senior Vice President and Head of Sotheby’s Fine Arts Department, said of the sale, “We’re thrilled with the outstanding results of our mid-season sale of Contemporary Art, which brought $13,080,208, well over the high estimate of $10.5 million. Exceptional works brought exceptional prices, such as both of today’s cover lots: Steven Parrino’s Scab Noggin sold for $432,000, more than five times the high estimate of $80,000; and Allen D’Arcangelo’s Smoke Dream #2 soared past a high estimate of $12,000 to bring $289,000; both records for the artists at auction. There was great depth in the bidding with strong interest from all over Europe and the United States. The sale was 81% sold by lot and 92% sold by value, with more than half of the sold lots exceeding their high estimate. Today’s results show continued strength in this segment of the art market. It was our most successful sale of this category to date.”