A large-scale diptych painting by the late American painter Brice Marden, who passed away last year at 84, will be gracing the auction block in a Christie's live sale in New York this coming May.
According to the auction house's press release on the sale, the piece is expected to sell between $30 million and $50 million. Dubbed "Event" and made across three years from 2004 to 2007, the painting will headline the "Christie's 21st Century Evening Sale."
Provided that the Marden artwork reaches the auction house's low estimate, its final price will be record-breaking for the artist.
The History of Brice Marden's 'Event'
Marden was a Knoxville, NYC native, who later in his life managed art studios across the world, including in Greece's Hdyra, Morocco's Marrakesh, the small island of Nevis along the Caribbean, Italy's Tivoli, and in Manhattan right up until his eventual passing.
As for the painting, it is one of six paintings composing the artist's "The Propitious Garden of Plane Image" series that exhibits his signature depiction of abstract undulating shapes.
These pieces were an echo of Marden's earlier works, which were responsible for catapulting the painter into fame in New York and led him into career-defining opportunities in 1975 at the Guggenheim Museum and in 2006 at the Museum of Modern Art.
"Event" was first acquired directly from Marden's NYC studio in 2007 by an anonymous private collector. In the entire time the piece was owned by this collector, it was not once lent to any public institution for any kind of exhibition or show.
This is why the auction house is ecstatic about having presented the general public with the opportunity to view one of Marden's masterpieces in the opening days of Art Dubai's 17th edition starting last Feb. 26 until this Friday, March 8.
Thus, the brief exhibition marks the end of its 17-year-long streak of public obscurity. It will also go on tour to Hong Kong from March 27 to 30 and Los Angeles from April 12 to 18.
As for the sale, it will be held in the same week other top auction houses are holding their evening sales, namely Sotheby's and Phillips.
The record "Event" is poised to break belongs to Marden's "Complements" (2004-7), which was sold for $30.9 million at a Christie's sale in 2020.
