French website Artprice published its final annual report on the state of the art market in 2012. AI continues to acquaint readers with the most important of its figures and conclusions (see the beginning: «Art Market in 2012. Part 1 »).

most successful artists of the Western art market in 2012

The share of Chinese authors in the overall ranking Artprice Top 500 international artists on the auction turnover (see table below) was so great that in the report for 2012 French analysts have decided to bring additional top ten artists only Western art market.

1. Andy Warhol - 329.5 million. Revenue from Warhol for the third time exceeded 300 million dollars. Once again, the King of Pop Art exceeded income by Pablo Picasso. 41 for the year 2012, its product has exceeded the threshold of $ 1 million. The most expensive work of the year was the "Statue of Liberty" (1962) with the effect of three-dimensional images - at the November auction Christie's paid for it $ 39 million. Warhol's personal record still holds the " Green car crash "for the $ 64 million (for sale in May 2007.) Let the new records in 2012, has not been established, but the total number of works on the market of the artist was 23%more than in 2011. All thanks Foundation Fine Arts Andy Warhol, who in September 2012 announced the sale of its full collection . The first auction of the Fund is held on 12 November, it put 364 lots, of which sold 91%.

2. Pablo Picasso - 286.1 million. In 2012 went under the hammer more than 3600 works by Picasso. For the most part (62%), of course, Draw graphics. Paintings were only 2%of the total number of works by Picasso in the market, but they gave 76%of total revenue. Last year, six of the artist's price crossed the threshold of $ 10 million. Picasso became more interested in Asia: the work of "Bust of a woman" (11.6 million) and "Woman with Dog" (5.6 million), bought Asian clients. The most expensive work of the year was "Still Life with Tulips" - at Sotheby's auction on November 8 it was sold for 37 million dollars.

3. Gerhard Richter - 262.7 million. is the leader among German artist living artists and the volume of sales, and the cost of a separate work. The 2012 personal record Richter renewed twice. Both times the rate reached a record "abstract painting." latest results October 12, 2012, equal to 30.4 million dollars (34.2 million, taking into account Commission) . For the year 2012 36 works Richter stepped million threshold, and 9 more pieces left $ 10 million (it's 3 in more than the most Picasso!). To the extent of "rihteromanii" were even more striking, is to compare the annual turnover of the auction of the artist (262.7 million dollars), with an annual auction turnover of the German art market (188 million). Interest in the work of Richter fueled its 80-year anniversary and the past in this regard, the exhibition in the world's leading museums.

4. Mark Rothko - 166.7 million dollars. The market of the artist determines not the quantity but the quality of work. For a year they appeared at auction only 10, but that was enough to take on the total turnover of the 4th place in the top 10 Western artists. And 144.5 million from 166.7 yielded a total of two works - «№ 1 (Royal Red and Blue)" (67 million) and "Orange, Red, Yellow" (77.5 million). The last picture was, first of all, the most expensive work of the artist of Russian origin , and second, the most expensive piece of postwar and contemporary art sold at a public auction.

5. Francis Bacon - $ 153 million. The market British artist gradually return to the level of star in 2007 and 2008. This confirms the result of the most significant in 2012 - $ 40 million for his portrait of George Dyer "writer man, reflected in a mirror" (number five in the list of the most expensive works of Bacon). Even small portretiki (up to 30 cm) of the artist goes under the hammer in the range of 3 to 9 million. A work from the series of portraits of popes - for tens of millions. For example, the portrait of Pope Innocent X in November went for 26.5 million.

6. Jean-Michel Basquiat - 141.2 million dollars. Auction turnover Basquiat rose from 67.2 million in 2011 to 141.2 million in 2012, ie, actually doubled. For the year to hammer away 86 works of the artist. Personal record was updated three times: in May it was 14.5 million for the work "Untitled", then 17.9 million in June for another untitled work, and, finally, $ 23.5 million for the third painting "Untitled" 1981 given year in November.

7. Joan Miro - 134.8 million. in 2012 set a new record for a painting surrealism. But by no means reached its Salvador Dali and the Spanish artist Joan Miro. His "Picture (Blue Star)" June 19 at Sotheby's brought 21 million pounds (about 33 million dollars). About the same (32.7 million dollars), was the entire annual auction turnover Miró in 2005. The price of "Blue Star", however, is not surprising: the artist himself considered this one of the best picture.

8. Alexander Calder - 128.5 million. The market of mobiles and other works by Alexander Calder for the first time reached such volumes. Results, it was seven-35. Standing mobile "Power lily" earned 16.5 million dollars - this is the first result of the Calder over 10 million. Prices for works by the artist in a decade rose on average by 120%.

9. Edvard Munch - 120.8 million. one year of work - so you can call on the market in 2012 by Edvard Munch. At the auction got one of the world's most famous works of art - "The Scream." Pastel, 70 are stored in the collection of Thomas Olsen, earned a record for the world's art market $ 107 million (120 million from BP).

10. Claude Monet - 120.6 million dollars. The market only impressionist in the top 10 Western artists fully recovered after a poor 2009-2011. Almost a third of the annual turnover of sale provided "Water Lilies" for $ 39 million. Water lilies - the most recognizable and most valued theme in the works of Monet: the absolute record of the artist - $ 72 million (2008) - also belongs to the canvas with water lilies.

Top 30 lots in 2012 Year by Artprice

ratings of artists on the auction turnover of money (from the top-500)

Prepared Maria Onuchina, AI

Sources : artprice.com