Christie’s auction of over three dozen items belonging to gallerist Adam Lindemann was a success, fetching $31.5 million in total.
Adam Lindemann, apart from being the owner of the Venus Over Manhattan gallery, is also a noted art collector. Titled “ADAM: Works From The Collection Of Adam Lindemann”, the auction was peculiar for a few reasons. For one, none of the usual reasons behind the auction of a private collection – divorce, debt, or death – was valid here. In fact, Lindemann proposed the idea of an auction voluntarily and the auction house even featured him in the title of the sale.
The evening sale was held on March 9 and featured works from some prominent names like Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, and even the NFT artist Beeple. Black Disc with Flags by Alexander Calder was the highest-selling work in the auction, fetching $5.46 million. Another highlight was the signed acrylic work Little Electric Chair by Andy Warhol which sold for $4.5 million. Other notable sales include The Sleep of Reason by Damien Hirst ($2.22 million), ‘Ours Polaire’ Sofa and Pair of Armchairs by Jean Royére ($3.42 million), and Ushering In Banality by Jeff Koons ($3.9 million).
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Adam Lindemann is well-known for buying coveted artworks and then reselling them at massive profits. For instance, a 1982 canvas by Basquiat that Lindemann bought for $4.5 million in 2004 ended up fetching him $57.3 million in 2016. Part of the proceeds from this auction will go towards the renovation of the Michael C. Rockefeller wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Adam Lindemann serves as the head of the steering committee of the wing; however, the exact amount that will go towards the renovation is not specified.
