contemporary art auctions Christie's, held yesterday evening in New York, brought an impressive 301.7 million dollars (total upper estimate was 299 million). Contemporary art market seems to feel quite confident. This is the best result for the bidding auction house in this category since May 2008. Buyers found 95 percent of the lots (62 of 65). There were also new records.

ANDY WARHOL Self-portrait. 1963-1964 Christie's. 11/05/2011. Lot number 22 Estimate: 20-30 million dollars Result: 38.4 million dollars Source: christies.com

most expensive piece of the evening was "Self Portrait" by Andy Warhol 1963-1964 years, consisting of four images of the artist in blue tones. During this self-portrait as much as 16 minutes of arguing art dealer Philip Segal (Philippe Segalot) and one of the leaders of the International Department of Contemporary Art Christie's Brett Gorvi (Brett Gorvy), betting on behalf of a client. As a result, the work went to Gorvi for 38.4 million dollars, surpassing the 30 millionth upper estimate. The work now is the most expensive self-portrait of Warhol, sold at public auction.

ANDY WARHOL Self. 1986 Christie's. 11/05/2011. Lot № 16 Estimate: 30-40 million dollars Result: 27.5 million dollars Source: christies.com

Another work of Warhol, which received one of the highest estimeytov on contemporary art auctions this week in New York, - « Self-Portrait "in 1986 for the 30-40 million - a sensation did not. Lot went under the hammer lower than the estimate - for 27.5 million. I bought a bright red self-portrait of the king of pop art a longtime fan of his work Mughrabi Jose (Jose Mugrabi). The family owns an extensive collection of Warhol and staunch supporter of the market for his works. "Why did I buy it? Yes, because I like him. Other customers did not have "- told the Mughrabi. In total, eight proposals in this evening of works by Andy Warhol brought 91 million dollars.

Mark Rothko Untitled number 17. 1961 Christie's. 11/05/2011. Lot number 8 Estimate: 18-22 million dollars Result: 33.7 million dollars Source: christies.com

The number of absolute top auction lots included and linen Mark Rothko «Untitled № 17. Work 1961, which had previously been estimated at 22 million dollars , managed to sell over 33.7 million dollars. "Quality speaks for itself" - says the art dealer Daniella Luxembourg (Daniella Luxembourg), in New York and London. "These rare things like that Rothko was more than offset the aggressive estimeyty».

were in favor and the work of Francis Bacon (Francis Bacon). His "Three Etudes for self-portrait," estimate which is not disclosed, but experts have mentioned a figure of $ 20 million and above , went under the hammer for 25.28 million dollars. Slightly lower than the estimate was sold to work "Untitled (creeping naked on the bar)" (estimate: 10-15 million dollars, result: 9.6 million dollars).

URS FISCHER Untitled (Lamp" Bear ») Christie's. 11/05/2011. Lot № 32 Estimate on request Result: 6.8 million dollars Source: christies.com

giant, weighing nearly 16 tons of yellow bronze bear Urs Fischer (Urs Fischer) with a lighted lamp on his forehead a month spent in front of a skyscraper Seagram Building in Manhattan. And no wonder: it was purchased for 6.8 million dollars - a record for the works of Fisher and "teddy bears, of course.

Cindy Sherman Untitled № 153. 1981 Tenth in a series of ten prints copyright Christie's. 11/05/2011. Lot number 6 Estimate: 1,5-2 million dollars Result: 3.89 million dollars Source: christies.com

Just two records set picture "Untitled № 153" Cindy Sherman (Cindy Sherman). Color image, depicting the artist in the form of a seductive ingenue, has attracted a New York dealer Philip Segal, laid out for him as much as 3.89 million dollars. This is the best result, not only for works of Sherman, but also for photography in general: surpassed the previous record of "99 cent II» Andreas Gursky (3.35 million dollars, Sotheby's, London, February 2007).

As the dealers, a selection works at Christie's was much better than the passed before the auction Sotheby's , where almost all the work left in the lower estimate (overall result 128.1 million dollars). For the New York dealer Lucy Mitchell-Innes (Lucy Mitchell-Innes), these two auctions as night and day. In her opinion, Sotheby's auction on Tuesday were sad and with anguish: "The whole thing as».

Top-10 evening auction Christie's «postwar and contemporary Arts » New York, May 11, 2011

Lot	Description	Estimate, millions of dollars	Buyer
22	ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987) « Self Portrait ». in 4 parts. 1963-1964 Acrylic on canvas, silkscreen	20-30	38442500	private buyer from Europe
8	Mark Rothko (1903-1970) « Untitled № 17 » . 1961 Oil on canvas	18-22	33682500	private buyer from Europe
16	ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987) « Self Portrait ». 1986 Canvas, synthetic polymer, silkscreen	30-40	27522500	Dealer
36	Francis Bacon (1909 -1992) « Three self-portrait sketch to ». Triptych. 1974 Oil on canvas	Estimate on request	25,282,500	anonymous buyer
25	SAY Twombly (b. 1928) « Untitled ». 1967 canvas shopping paint, wax, plastic pencil World record price for the value of the artist at auction	10-15	15202500	private buyer from Europe
13	Francis Bacon (1909-1992) « Untitled (Nude figure on the rails)." 1952 Oil on canvas	10-15	9,602,500	private buyer from Europe
12	RICHARD DIBENKORN (1922 -1993) « Ocean Park № 121 ». 1980 Oil on canvas World record price for the value of the artist at auction	7-9	7,698,500	dealer from United States
32	URS FISCHER (born 1973) « Untitled (Lamp" Bear ") ». 2005-2006 Bronze, acrylic, glass, polyurethane, stainless steel, light bulbs slowly mixed media, World record price for the value of the artist at auction	Estimate on request	6,802,500	anonymous buyer
34	ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987) «Self Portrait» . 1963-1964 Acrylic on canvas, silkscreen	6-8	6,802,500	anonymous buyer
11	PHILIP GASTON (1913-1980) « City artist ». 1956-1957 Oil on canvas	4,5-6,5	6,578,500	dealer in the U.S.

Material prepared Maria Onuchina , AI

Source: bloomberg.com , christies.com , artdaily.com , artinfo.com , artinvestment.ru