Auction of untrained artists’ works achieves impressive results
- Christie’s sale of outsider art exceeds presale expectations by 147%
- Top lot of the auction was William Edmondson’s ‘Fox’ sculpture, selling for $378,000
- Edmondson became the first African-American artist to have a solo exhibition at MoMA in 1937
- Outsider art refers to works by artists with no formal training or not part of the art establishment
- Christie’s has been offering outsider art for a decade
- Works from the collection of Robert M. Greenberg and Monty Blanchard were featured in the sale
- Notable lots included works by Thornton Dial and Winfred Rembert
Christie’s sale of outsider art, or works by creators with no formal training, on Friday at its Rockefeller Center saleroom in New York City blew past its presale expectations, coming in at 147% against its low estimate. The top lot of the auction was William Edmondson’s Fox, a limestone sculpture from the 1930s that sold for US$378,000. Edmondson, the son of freed slaves, became the first African-American artist to have a solo exhibition at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art in 1937. Outsider art refers to works by artists who have not had any formal training or who are not part of the art establishment. Christie’s has been offering outsider art for a decade, and this sale featured works from the collection of Robert M. Greenberg and Monty Blanchard. Notable lots included works by Thornton Dial and Winfred Rembert.
Factuality Level: 7
Factuality Justification: The article provides detailed information about Christie’s sale of outsider art, including the total amount of sales, top lots, historical background, and quotes from Christie’s representatives. The article does not contain any obvious misinformation or propaganda, and the information presented seems to be well-researched and accurate. However, it could be improved by providing more context on the significance of outsider art in the art market and society.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides a detailed overview of Christie’s sale of outsider art, including information on top lots, historical context, and key figures involved. It stays on topic and supports its claims with specific examples and quotes from relevant individuals. However, some repetitive information and unnecessary details could be considered noise.
Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Rating Justification: The article does not pertain to financial topics and does not describe any extreme events.
Public Companies: Christie’s (Not applicable)
Key People: William Edmondson (Artist), Roger Cardinal (English art historian and critic), Jean Dubuffet (French artist), Cara Zimmerman (Head of outsider art, Christie’s), Robert M. Greenberg (Visual effects pioneer), Monty Blanchard (Chair of the board of trustees at American Folk Art Museum), Thornton Dial (Artist), Winfred Rembert (Artist), Jane Fonda (Actress and Art Collector), Arthur Dial (Artist), Thornton Dial Jr. (Artist)
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