Today I attended the Sotheby's Contemporary Art Auction just 5 blocks down the street from my apartment. I passed Sotheby's last night on my way home and remembered that there was going to be an auction today. I arrived at the auction as they were auctioning off Lot 8 which was a circular painting on canvas by Lee Bontecou that went for $170, 500. I was blown away, a painting the size of a medium size pizza gets auctioned off in less than 10 minutes for $170,500.
The Sotheby's building is 10 stories high. I went to the 7th floor for the auction and worked my way down to the main floor. Each floor represented a different style of art (Americana, jewelry, more Contemporary art , etc.) that will be auctioned off within weeks. On October 1, there is an exhibit of photography ranging from Atget, Robert Frank, Eadward Weston, Ansel Adams, and other contemporary artist. The work will be auctioned off October 6th. Earlier this year, an original Ansel Adams print auctioned for $722,500 breaking the previous record for $$609,600.
