Ask Onix
Record-breaking sale at Christie's
A Jackson Pollock painting described as one of the earliest examples of pure abstraction has fetched $181 million (£135 million) at a Christie's auction in New York, setting a new benchmark for the artist's work.
The painting
Titled Number 7A, 1948, the large-scale canvas features Pollock's signature drip technique-black paint splattered across the surface with flecks of red. Measuring over three meters wide, the artwork was part of the private collection of late media tycoon S.I. Newhouse.
Christie's hailed the piece as a pivotal moment in art history, stating it marked Pollock's break from traditional easel painting and the birth of true abstraction.
Auction milestones
The sale eclipsed the previous record for a Pollock artwork, which stood at $61.2 million for Number 17, 1951, sold in 2021. It also ranks as the fourth-highest price ever paid for an artwork at auction, according to ARTnews.
Another highlight from Newhouse's collection, a bronze sculpture by Constantin Brâncuși, sold for $107.6 million, making it the second-most expensive sculpture ever auctioned.
Broader auction results
The event also saw record prices for works by Mark Rothko and Joan Miró, further underscoring the night's success for Christie's.
Pollock's legacy
Pollock, who died in 1956, remains a towering figure in abstract expressionism. His revolutionary drip paintings redefined modern art, influencing generations of artists and becoming instantly recognizable worldwide.
While some of his works have fetched higher sums in private sales, the $181 million auction price solidifies Number 7A, 1948 as a cornerstone of his oeuvre.
