Post-War
& Contemporary Art
Under the direction of Hugues Sébilleau, the Post-War & Contemporary Art department has for many years been achieving remarkable results for artworks dating from 1945 to the present day at a rate of four sales per year, including two prestige sessions.
The department seeks to promote and develop the market for French artists within the various artistic movements – abstraction, narrative figuration and the New Realists – but also to contribute fully to the achievement of significant results for international artists.
The numerous collections auctioned in this speciality underline this work, both through classic ensembles such as those of Jean Pollak, Claude and Micheline Renard, Jean Ferrero, Jacques and Madeleine Matarasso, Pierre Hebey, Jean Leymarie, Eva Schwartz and Édouard Sterngold and Berto Lardera, and through much more contemporary ensembles such as Minimal Project, Vincent Wapler or Michel Fedoroff.
By highlighting the qualities of an artwork, the work carried out prior to the sale and the prospecting of new buyers, the department has been able to achieve extremely impressive results. In 2019, Chu Teh-Chun’s Synthèse hivernale C was sold for over €5m, while in 2020, a stabile by Alexander Calder fetched €4.9m. More recently, in 2022, the department sold two paintings by Joan Mitchell and Pierre Soulages for over €2.5m each.
Artcurial’s specialists are at your disposal for free and confidential valuations of your contemporary artworks.
Specialists
Hugues Sebilleau
Associate DirectorPhone +33 1 42 99 16 35
hsebilleau@artcurial.com
After several years at the Étude Briest, from 1988 to 1992, during which he played an active part in the art market and then in finance, in 2003 Hugues Sébilleau again joined Francis Briest at Artcurial’s Post-War & Contemporary department.
For 15 years, Hugues Sébilleau has developed several periods and movements, including Abstraction and the 70s, also expanding new markets and helping the department achieve remarkable results with artworks from 1945 to the present.
It is also worth noting that the oil on canvas painting 1.6.88 by Zao Wou-Ki sold for 3,518,600 € including buyer’s premium, and the acrylic on canvas painting Tabula, done in 1980 by Simon Hantaï, which was acquired for 753,000 € last June.
His analysis of the contemporary art market and its participants has also allowed Artcurial to offer renowned collections such as that of the Paris art merchant Jean Pollak in October 2011, and more recently the Michel Fedoroff collection in 2017, which allowed Artcurial to obtain the world’s record for a work by Martin Barré.
Contacts
News
Monaco Sculptures 2024
Artcurial prepares the fifth edition of the sale event
Following the success of its previous editions, Monaco Sculptures returns this summer for a fifth session. Last year's sale totalled €2.3m including fees, and featured a unique monumental work by César entitled Hommage à Eiffel, which fetched €393,600, and a magnificent 1967 sculpture by Gio Ponti entitled Angel, which sold for €262,400.
Major Modern & Contemporary Art auctions
On 5th and 6th December 2023, Artcurial held its major Impressionist & Modern Art, Post-War & Contemporary and Twenty One Contemporary auctions. The Modern Art section highlighted some truly outstanding works by Kees Van Dongen, René Magritte and Fernando Botero, as well as an exquisite bronze by Edgar Degas. The Post-War & Contemporary auction presented “Piazza San Marco al sole”, a work by Lucio Fontana from his Venice series, as well as works by Anna-Eva Bergmann, Antoni Tàpies and Jean-Paul Riopelle. The Twenty One Contemporary sale featured works by artists such as Dran, Claire Tabouret, Tadashi Kawamata, Kaws, Xavier Veilhan, Zanele Muholi and Godwin Champs Namuyimba.
Lucio Fontana, the artist who revolutionised the 20th century art
On 5th December 2023, Artcurial’s Post-War & Contemporary department presented an exceptional painting by Lucio Fontana entitled Concetto spaziale, Piazza San Marco al sole, painted in 1961, in its prestige sale.
Eclectic Eye
A European Collection
On 20th October 2023, in parallel with Paris+ par Art Basel, Artcurial auctioned the Eclectic Eye collection coming from a London apartment, and assembled in over 20 years by discerning collectors. This was a rare, cutting-edge collection that brought together objects and periods: from the great modern artists Berthe Morisot and Pierre Bonnard, to contemporaries Peter Doig and Olafur Eliasson, as well as rare 18th-century furniture and exceptional Chinese and Sèvres porcelain. This collection of nearly 160 lots represented a unique journey into the free and intuitive spirit of collectors.
Yves Dana, un autre regard sur la sculpture
The Post-War & Contemporary Art department at Artcurial presented from 5th to 26th October 2023 an exhibition spotlighting the remarkable sculptor Yves Dana, an Egyptian-born Swiss artist. Organised in collaboration with the renowned London gallery Waddington Custot and covering 25 years of his career, this first major exhibition in France featured 16 works available for sale. These sculptures in stone and bronze offered an opportunity to discover the work of this sculptor much appreciated by collectors the world over.
Over €14M for the Monaco Auction Week sales
The Monaco Auction Week sales, which was held from 16th to 19th July 2023 at the Hotel Hermitage in Monte-Carlo, were a resounding success with Artcurial’s Jewellery, Watches, Fashion & Luxury Accessories, Post-War & Contemporary Art and, for the first time, Design departments all shined on the French Riviera, totaling over €14 M.
Premier regard, benefiting the Fondation des Artistes
On 11th September 2023, Artcurial inaugurated its second semester with a charity sale in support of contemporary creation. In favor of the Fondation des Artistes, the sale highlighted the works of 90 emerging artists exhibited by the Premier Regard association over its 20 years of activity. All proceeds from the sale were donated to the Fondation des Artistes in support of its work with artists.
Monaco Sculptures: an exceptional monumental artwork Hommage à Eiffel by César at auction
On the occasion of the Monaco Auction Week from 14th to 19th July 2023, the Principality opened once again the Société des Bains de Mer’s gardens and establishments to the Monaco Sculptures sale. Designed around the leading artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, this 4th edition featured a unique monumental artwork signed by César. This welded iron plaque, measuring more than 3 meters, was assembled from the Iron Lady's old staircases and beams, dismantled in the early 1980s. Its sale on 18th July at the Hôtel Hermitage in Monte-Carlo was the ultimate tribute to Gustave Eiffel, whose centenary is being celebrated in 2023.
Monaco Auction Week
Artcurial is back on the Riviera
Artcurial was back on the Riviera for the summer, at the Hôtel Hermitage, from 16th to 19th July 2023. The Important Watches, Jewellery, Hermès & Luxury Bags and Monaco Sculptures departments and, for the very first time, the Design department, preceded by public exhibitions, held auctions with lots selected to appeal to collectors and enthusiast.
