Sotheby's barely trickled over the estimated $360 million in contemporary art sales this past evening on Wednesday, May 14th by only $2 million to mark the highest total in the company's history. 


Francis Bacon "Triptych 1976" sold for $86.3 million @ Sotheby's

I had to feature this because not only is it astonishing that a record breaking $362 million in art was sold during these times but two artist that I have mentioned before broke personal and Sotheby's records as well.  Artist Takashi Murakami jumped for joy and screamed "bonzai" when his piece "My Lonesome Cowboy" crushed the estimated $4 million to a telephone bidder for $15 million.  You know you got it like that when you can purchase a $15 million piece of art over the phone!  Especially when it's a life size sculpture of a person masterbating!  When I was at his exhibit, I was wondering how much one of his sculptures would go for.  If his smaller sculptures go for that much, I wonder how much his bigger pieces would go for?


Takashi Murakami:  "My Lonesome Cowboy" sold for $15 million @ Sotheby's

Coincidentally, Marakami did a homage to Francis Bacon, who's work "TripTych 1976" was the highest sale of $86.3 million, which was a Sotheby's record for a contemporary piece of art.  On the other hand, Sotheby's found buyer for 88% of the pieces and out of 12% two Warhol's did not find owners that night.  One of Andy Warhol's works "Detail of the Last Supper (Christ 112 Times)"  only got $9.5 million which was a lil less then the estimated $10 to $15 million.  You know times are changing when Murakami can out sell Warhol. 


Andy Warhol:  "Detail of the Last Supper" sold for $9.5 million