Serious Bling

Jeff Koons makes big art. His Flower Puppy was one of the greatest works of public, ephemeral art ever erected in the city in my humble opinion.

Just before the fall sales at Christie’s, across the street from Rockefeller Plaza, his ”Blue Diamond” (2005) was on display for all the world to gawk at.

Like many a tourist, it stopped me in my tracks. The blue is so blue! And shiny! And reflective! Check it out, you can see the sign for Top Of The Rock in one of its facets. And look! There’s a Warhol behind it! Possibly owned by Hugh Grant! (It sold for $23.7 million in case you were wondering).

See? Even us jaded New Yorkers can get excited about stuff.

Unfortunately the work didn’t excite the bidders and ”Blue Diamond” sold for “only” $11.8 million, far below its pre-sale estimate of $12-20 million.

But don’t feel too bad for Mr. Koons. His ”Hanging Heart (Magenta/Gold)” sold for $23,561,000 handily beating the low end of its $15 million estimate and set a new record for the most expensive piece of art sold by a living artist.

We should all be so lucky in our second careers.

~ by ann on December 3, 2007.