recently in the British Guardian newspaper there were lists of artists whose works have brought the greatest amount at auction in 2007. The main criteria were not the amounts that have brought some work, but the entire annual volume of auction sales. According to Guardian, the highest listed on the market of the author (of living artists) was not Damien Hurst (Damien Hirst), recently, by the way, won the first row in the list of most influential people in the world of art , a patriarch of Gerhard Richter (Gerhard Richter). Interestingly, the authors of the rating the most expensive works of living artists Richter took fifth , and Hurst - third . In the Top-5 of the most successful artists in 2007 and became an American king of pop art, Jeff Koons (Jeff Koons), which is located at second in the list of sponsors of the most expensive works. But the remaining two seats in the first five have taken the Chinese: Zhang Syaogan (Zhang Xiaogang) and Mintszyun Yue (Yue Minjun). First glove called «sad», while the second «cool»: Zhang Syaogan known for his bleak picture of the sad images of the Chinese in a dark dress, and on famous paintings Yue Mintszyunya heroes, by contrast, are dying from sides. Lugubriousness, apparently quoted in the market than fun: Guardian of the rating is above Syaogan Zhang Yue Mintszyunya, a fan of skulls Hurst ahead amateur Zaichikov Koons.

This rule does not apply to the creativity of women artists whose work, as the brutal act of art-market, is always less expensive works of artists-men . In the first place in the Top-5 most quoted in the market now living women artists is Yaei Kusama (Yayoi Kusama) , known for its colorful soft sculptures in peas. A grim ekspressionistka Marlene Dumas (Marlene Dumas), whose characters often resemble ghosts, took fifth in the ranking, that is the last place. In second place - another ekspressionistka, «de Kuninga in a skirt» Sesili Brown (Cecily Brown), which is when writing their sensual canvases inspired by pornography. The third line in the list is the diverse, Cindy Sherman (Cindy Sherman), and a fourth - the Queen of optical illusions, most famous representative of op-art Bridget Riley (Bridget Riley) .

Guardian has published yet another Top-5 in 2007 - on the auction turnover of money for those artists who, alas, can not be attributed to the living. Here, of course, very different figures: the auction of works Yaei Kusama turnover in 2007 amounted to 8 million pounds, Gerhard Richter - 49 million, and Andy Warhol (Andy Warhol) - nearly 243 million! Warhol took first place in the ranking. It is followed by Pablo Picasso (Pablo Picasso). Paintings by Picasso, of course, more expensive than the work of Warhol: in the list of sponsors of the most expensive work ever sold at public auction, Spanish classic takes the first place . Warhol is there only , but he is beaten by Picasso numbers: in the catalog is almost every major auction of works of postwar and contemporary art is at least one of his work. In third place in the Top-5 is Francis Bacon (Francis Bacon), in the fourth - Mark Rothko (Mark Rothko) , and the fifth took Claude Monet (Claude Monet).

Top-5 living artists on the auction turnover in 2007

1. Gerhard Richter (b. 1932). Annual turnover - £ 49 429 000
2. Damien Hurst (b. 1965). Annual turnover - 43 009 862 Pounds
3. Zhang Syaogan (b. 1958). Annual turnover - 32 720 472 Pounds
4. Jeff Koons (b. 1955). Annual turnover - £ 30 247 845
5. Yue Mintszyun (b. 1962). Annual turnover - 25 748 681 lbs

Top-5 living women artists in the auction turnover in 2007

1. Yaei Kusama (b. 1929). Annual turnover - 8 099 508 pounds
2. Sesili Brown (b. 1969). Annual turnover - £ 5 200 625
3. Cindy Sherman (b. 1954). Annual turnover - £ 5 125 800
4. Bridget Riley (b. 1931). Annual turnover - £ 4 623 918
5. Marlene Dumas (b. 1953). Annual turnover - £ 3 125 833

Top-5 of the artists on the auction turnover in 2007

1. Andy Warhol (1928-1987). Annual turnover - £ 242 839 544
2. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). Annual turnover - £ 183 936 799
3. Francis Bacon (1909-1992). Annual turnover - £ 140 790 739
4. Mark Rothko (1903-1970). Annual turnover - £ 118 988 627
5. Claude Monet (1840-1926). Annual turnover - 94 932 041 lbs

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova

Sources: guardian.co . uk , artinvestment.ru