Santa Monica Auction’s 25th Anniversary Contemporary + Modern Art Auction

The highest estimated lot at this weekend’s Santa Monica Auction is Ed Ruscha’s Hollywood Stunt People, 1998, estimated at $150,000-$180,000.

This Saturday, May 30, Santa Monica Auctions will hold its 25th anniversary modern and contemporary art auction, featuring painting, sculpture, photography, multiples and prints. The event kicks off at 1pm at the Bergamot Station Arts Center, in Santa Monica (just outside of Los Angeles), and online bidding can be done here. With a heavy focus on modestly priced prints and editions, the 353 lot auction features many of the established names one would expect to find in a modern and contemporary sale, alongside several newer faces who have emerged from the urban art world, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Robert Rauschenberg, Man Ray, Takashi Murakami, Mark Ryden, Marcel Dzama, FAILE, Banksy, Shepard Fairey and Antony Micallef.

Mark Ryden - Untitled. Pencil on paper. Estimate: $20,000-$24,000.

Read on for the rest of our selection of lots.

FAILE - Buttefly Girl, 2005. Spraypaint and acrylic on windowpane. Estimate: $15,000-$20,000

Banksy - Applause, 2006. Unique Trial proof screenprint on paper. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000.

Shepard Fairey - I’m Gonna Kick Your Ass, 2006. Silkscreen, 3/9 AP. Estimate: $3,000-$4,000

Damien Hirst - Cathedral, 2007. Silkscreen with glazes, 5/50. Estimate: 26,000-$28,000.

Alex Katz - Susan, 1976. Screenprint, LII/L out of an edition of 175. Estimate: $4,000-$5,000.

Jeff Koons, Puppy, 1998. Porcelain., ed. of 3000. Estimate: $9,000-$12,000.

Robert Longo - Jules, 2002. Lithograph, 9/120. Estimate: $3,000-$4,000.

Antony Micallef - Beginning of the End, 2007. Nickel plated bronze, 11/25. Estimate: $40,000-$50,000.

Takashi Murakami - Second Mission project KO2 mega mix kit, 1999. Molded resin and paint, ed. of 200. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000.

Raymond Pettibon, Untitled, 1984. Ink on paper. Estimate: $12,000-$18,000.

Marcel Dzama, Two Girls with Clown, 1999. Pencil and watercolor on paper. Estimate: $2,000-$3,000.

Preview: Saturday @ Phillips NYC Auction of Art

Last night, Phillips De Pury in New York City held a special preview of the lots from their Saturday sale coming up this weekend. Saturday @ Phillips has become a very good auction house because of its increased accessibility compared with other higher-end contemporary auctions, which are typically held on mid-week afternoons and evenings, making them difficult for most working people to attend. In addition, Phillips Saturday sales are known for a wide range of items, including a great selection of urban, street and other emerging art, as well as designer toys and skateboard decks.

This weekend’s Phillips sale is perhaps the best collection of urban and street art at auction to date, including pieces by Shepard Fairey, KAWS, Faile, Barry McGee and Swoon.

But more than that, the works included for the most part are fine, representative selections of the artists, something that hasn’t always been the case at urban and street sales.

In addition, the auction includes a nice selection of works by some early and mid-career artists who have little to no auction record, such as Steve Powers, Chris Johanson, Thomas Campbell, Jim Houser, Matt Leines and the Clayton Brothers.

All that, plus free coffee and donuts, makes Saturday @ Phillips the top priority of the weekend.

It’ll be very interesting to see how this sale does. All in all, the estimates seem to be very reasonable, with a lot of nice pieces being estimated at or below current gallery prices for similar new works. Recent auctions results seem to suggest that even in this economic climate, collectors are out there and interested in buying top quality works for the right price.

Urban Art Auction featuring Banksy, Choe, D*Face, Grafter, Nick Walker + more

Inkie and Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green present Urban Art Auction, a charity event in support of the Great Ormond St. Cochlear Implant Unit & CICS. The benefit takes place at The Paradise in London on April 23rd, and will feature original art from Banksy, David Choe, D*Face, Grafter (big favorite of mine), Nick Walker and many more. All proceeds will go to the charities involved. For tickets to the event or more information contact pedro@theparadise.co.uk or visit www.theparadise.co.uk