February 16, 2022Swann NewsVintage Posters Sarah Bernhardt, Mucha’s Muse Read more about Sarah Bernhardt, Mucha’s Muse Imagine, if you will, the most famous actress you can think of: accomplished, multifaceted, beautiful, and globally recognized. Odds are you’re thinking of someone from Hollywood. Now imagine her with…
Read more about Artist Profile: Belkis Ayón September 27, 2021 African American Art Artist Profile: Belkis Ayón Printmaking has a long history of making the fine art world at large more accessible internationally, due to its affordability and impact. This can be seen in the efforts of…
Read more about Dada & Surrealism from the Virginia Zabriskie Collection September 8, 2021 Photographs & Photobooks Dada & Surrealism from the Virginia Zabriskie Collection During her time as a gallerist, Virginia Zabriskie was keyed into the zeitgeist of the era. She embraced the Dada Manifesto and Surrealist ideals, presenting several exhibitions that explored these…
Read more about Self-Portrait Photography April 13, 2021 Photographs & Photobooks Self-Portrait Photography A Little Self(ie) Love Whether you love them or hate them, selfies have become a large part of self-representation in contemporary culture. Though the term selfie tends to refer specifically…
Read more about Dorothea Lange & Photography as a Tool for Social Change March 2, 2021 Photographs & Photobooks Dorothea Lange & Photography as a Tool for Social Change Dorothea Lange‘s iconic photographs from her time documenting for the Farm Security Administration, as well as her international travels, resonate through the decades since. Here we provide insight to the…
Read more about The Artists of the WPA: The Promise of a New Deal January 20, 2021 The Artists of the WPA The Artists of the WPA: The Promise of a New Deal On February 4, 2021, Swann offered: The Artists of the WPA. The first iteration of the multi-departmental sale, featured paintings, prints, photographs, posters, books and related ephemera by artists whose…
Read more about Beloved Children’s Book Illustrators November 30, 2020 Illustration Art Beloved Children’s Book Illustrators Original artwork from children’s literature continue to make up a large portion of our Illustration Art sales. The enduring appeal of this collecting category is in part due to the…
Read more about The Virginia Zabriskie Collection September 14, 2020 Prints & Drawings The Virginia Zabriskie Collection We are honored to offer the collection of Virginia Zabriskie in a special single-owner auction in 2021. Virginia Zabriskie’s (1927-2019) personal collection was not only manifested in her discerning taste, but during a pioneering career spanning more than five decades marked by audacity and innovation in a field that was not always encouraging to professional women.
Read more about Swann in Profile: Deborah Rogal July 10, 2020 Photographs & Photobooks Swann in Profile: Deborah Rogal After 15 years with Swann, Deborah Rogal is stepping into the role of Director of our Photographs & Photobooks department. As she transitions into her new position we asked a few questions about her time with the house: how things have changed over the years, the photography market, and what’s to come.
Read more about Marching Together June 5, 2020 Swann Marching Together A Note From Swann Galleries President Nicholas D. Lowry: Swann is unequivocally against racism, institutionalized racism, racism and discrimination in all forms, and we believe that black lives matter. We are champions of dignity and respect and advocates for peace.
Read more about The Making of a Portrait: Michael Halsband’s Photograph of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat June 5, 2020 Photographs & Photobooks The Making of a Portrait: Michael Halsband’s Photograph of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat Michael Halsband is known for his striking portraits of celebrities, from rock stars to artists, as well as his commercial work for major publications such as Vogue, GQ, and Esquire.…
Read more about Artist Profile: Ernie Barnes May 26, 2020 African American Art Artist Profile: Ernie Barnes Ernie Barnes was the first American professional athlete to become a noted painter. From his sports experience and the study of anatomy, Barnes’ unique style of elongation captures the movement, energy and grace of his subjects.
Read more about Old Master Prints & Drawings from the Collection of Matthew Rutenberg May 5, 2020 Prints & Drawings Old Master Prints & Drawings from the Collection of Matthew Rutenberg At Auction May 21, 2020 Our May 21, 2020 sale of Old Master Through Modern Prints opens with a special section—the first hundred lots of the sale—dedicated to fine old…
Read more about Swann in Profile: Laura Polucha April 23, 2020 Illustration Art Swann in Profile: Laura Polucha Laura Polucha joined our illustration art department as a cataloguer in the summer of 2019. Here she shares with us what brought her into the auction world, what she can’t…
Read more about A New Muse: Robert Mapplethorpe and Lisa Lyon April 16, 2020 Photographs & Photobooks A New Muse: Robert Mapplethorpe and Lisa Lyon Robert Mapplethorpe met Lisa Lyon, the first World Women’s BodyBuilding Champion, at a party in SoHo in 1979 where her black rubber outfit caught Mapplethorpe’s eye.
Read more about Illustrator Profile: William Pène du Bois April 9, 2020 Illustration Art Illustrator Profile: William Pène du Bois William Pène du Bois’ whimsical illustrations and beloved cast of characters made serious themes accessible and engaging for children. The American author and illustrator is among a select few who…
Read more about Tadanori Yokoo: Pop Visionary April 6, 2020 Vintage Posters Tadanori Yokoo: Pop Visionary Internationally-renowned graphic artist and designer Tadanori Yokoo, who has been called “the grandmaster of Japanese pop-psych art,” got his start as a stage designer for avant garde theatre in Tokyo. It is no wonder why his eventual foray into poster design resulted in graphics that are unfailingly theatrical and dramatic—drawing on Psychedelia, mysticism, Pop culture and Japanese imagery.
Read more about Beyond Migrant Mother: Five FSA Photographers to Know April 1, 2020 Photographs & Photobooks Beyond Migrant Mother: Five FSA Photographers to Know While Dorothea Lange—and her portrait of Florence Thompson, Migrant Mother—has become one of the most well-known photographers to come out of the Great Depression and the Farm Security Administration’s photography…
Read more about What Swann is Reading Right Now March 30, 2020 Swann What Swann is Reading Right Now Finding yourself at a loss for what to read while social distancing? Take a look at what our specialists and staff are reading right now!
Read more about Romare Bearden’s Letters to Art Historian Harry B. Henderson, Jr. March 26, 2020 Printed & Manuscript African Americana Romare Bearden’s Letters to Art Historian Harry B. Henderson, Jr. Here we take look at letters, postcards and greeting cards from Romare Bearden to his longtime friend and collaborator Harry Henderson, as well as touch on the 2005 sale of Henderson’s art collection that made the establishment of our African-American Fine Art Department possible.
Read more about Collecting Photos 101: What Is a Photograph Edition? March 25, 2020 Photographs & Photobooks Collecting Photos 101: What Is a Photograph Edition? With photography’s inherent ability to be duplicated, edition size can be a major focus and concern for collectors. While many contemporary photographers clearly edition their works, it has not always…
Read more about What Swann is Watching from Home March 19, 2020 Swann What Swann is Watching from Home Finding yourself at a loss for what to watch while social distancing? Take a look at what our specialists and staff are streaming right now!
Read more about Swann in Profile: Corey Serrant March 17, 2020 African American Art Swann in Profile: Corey Serrant Corey Serrant is the newest member of our African-American fine art department – in fact, he started the week of our white-glove sale of the Johnson Publishing Company collection! We…
Read more about Swann in Profile: Harold Porcher March 5, 2020 Swann Swann in Profile: Harold Porcher In the latest installment in our Swann in Profile series, we welcome Harold Porcher as Director of our new Modern & Post-War Art department. Read below to learn more about Porcher, Modern and post-war art, and best collecting practices.
Read more about Market Debuts: Artists to Watch in our January 30 Auction January 27, 2020 African American Art Market Debuts: Artists to Watch in our January 30 Auction Our January 30 sale of African-American Art from the Johnson Publishing Company features nearly 30 market newcomers. Here we’ve assembled a selection of ten artists whose work is set to cross the auction block for the first time.
Read more about Swann in Profile: Devon Eastland January 15, 2020 Books & Manuscripts Swann in Profile: Devon Eastland With the 2020 auction season on the horizon, we sat down with the newest addition to our books and manuscripts department, Devon Eastland, senior specialist for early printed books, to discuss all things books and material culture.
Read more about Collecting the Works of Women Illustrators December 3, 2019 Illustration Art Collecting the Works of Women Illustrators Our fall 2019 sale of Illustration Art on December 10 features a superb selection of artwork by women, whose contribution to the field is only just beginning to receive the recognition it deserves. Here Laura Polucha, the cataloguer for our Illustration Art department, touches on the highlights from the offering including story illustrations, advertisements and cartoons.
Read more about The Hot Bid Interviews Christine von der Linn for our December 10 Sale of Illustration Art December 2, 2019 Illustration Art The Hot Bid Interviews Christine von der Linn for our December 10 Sale of Illustration Art Sheila Gibson Stoodley, author of The Hot Bid, spoke with our Illustration Art Directors, Christine von der Linn about a special 1973 Charles Addams cartoon published in The New Yorker at auction December 10 in our Illustration Art sale.
Read more about Exhibition Guide: Museums Showing 9th Street Women… & Beyond November 18, 2019 Contemporary Art Exhibition Guide: Museums Showing 9th Street Women… & Beyond Your exhibition guide to shows featuring the women of the Abstract Expressionist movement and beyond.
Read more about 9 New Auction Records in Fall 2019 Auction of African-American Fine Art October 10, 2019 African American Art 9 New Auction Records in Fall 2019 Auction of African-American Fine Art Swann Galleries’ Fall 2019 auction of African-American Fine resulted in nine new auction records, supported by a room brimming with bidders—in fact, there were just enough chairs for everyone.
Read more about Artist Profile: Charles Addams September 4, 2019 Illustration Art Artist Profile: Charles Addams With a proclivity to the grim, grisly and gruesome, Charles Addams walked through life illuminating its incongruous funny bones and sore spots. Here we discuss his contributions to The New Yorker and his famous kooky family.
Read more about Artist Profile: Norman Lewis August 30, 2019 African American Art Artist Profile: Norman Lewis Norman Lewis was an Abstract Expressionist painter associated with The Irascibles who developed as a painter as the New York Modern Art scene grew. Here we discuss Lewis’s rise from the margins to art market center.
Read more about A Look at Roy Lichtenstein’s Early Works May 10, 2019 Contemporary Art A Look at Roy Lichtenstein’s Early Works Roy Lichtenstein is known for his commercial art-inspired works that provided parody through Pop Art and elevated the art of cartooning. Though all of his work maintains the semi-fantastical air…
Read more about Records & Results: Vintage Posters August 7, 2018 Vintage Posters Records & Results: Vintage Posters Poster Passion Leads to a Successful Auction Our August 1 Vintage Poster sale set at least six auction records, including a new high price for Sutro Baths. The exhibition for…
Read more about Keep It Under Your Stetson July 30, 2018 Vintage Posters Keep It Under Your Stetson Wartime propaganda can serve a variety of purposes, from recruitment and morale-building to conservation. During World War II all of these played a role in the Office of War Information’s…
Read more about The Hot Bid Interviews Nicho on Cassandre’s “Best Way” July 10, 2018 Vintage Posters The Hot Bid Interviews Nicho on Cassandre’s “Best Way” Sheila Gibson Stoodley, author of The Hot Bid, interviewed our President & Principal Auctioneer Nicholas D. Lowry about the most expensive travel poster ever sold. Sheila’s blog, The Hot Bid showcases…
Read more about Swann Summer Reading List 2018 June 28, 2018 Swann Swann Summer Reading List 2018 Our Summer Reading List is back for 2018! Here’s what some of us are cracking into in the off-season. Nicholas D. Lowry, President & Principal Auctioneer Noah Charney and Ingrid…
Read more about 2017-18 Year in Review June 25, 2018 Swann 2017-18 Year in Review The 2017-18 auction season at Swann Galleries was replete with record prices and rediscovered paintings, offering works created as early as the fifteenth century and as recently as last year.…
Read more about Records & Results: Revolutionary & Presidential Americana from the Collection of William Wheeler IIII June 25, 2018 Autographs Records & Results: Revolutionary & Presidential Americana from the Collection of William Wheeler IIII On June 21, our auction of Revolutionary & Presidential Americana from the Collection of William Wheeler III saw a 91% sell-through rate for important autographs, letters and documents from some of…
Read more about Records & Results: American Art June 18, 2018 American Art Records & Results: American Art Our auction of American Art on June 14 offered original works by bastions of the category including William Glackens and John Singer Sargent, as well as artists whose work has…
Read more about Records & Results: Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books June 12, 2018 Maps & Atlases Records & Results: Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books Our auction of Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books on June 7 brought to market landmarks from the history of cartography and ornithology. The nearly 400 lots…
Read more about William Wheeler III: The Quest for American History June 11, 2018 Autographs William Wheeler III: The Quest for American History William Wheeler III’s collection of Revolutionary and Presidential Americana, coming to auction June 21, began on his 21st birthday with the gift of his three-times-great-uncle’s appointment as an Ensign to…
Read more about The Many Illustrious Circles of Pavel Tchelitchew June 8, 2018 American Art The Many Illustrious Circles of Pavel Tchelitchew Multi-talented artists can appear in multiple departments at Swann. Our June 14 auction of American Art will feature highlights by Pavel Tchelitchew, whose work also appears in our auctions of Illustration…
Read more about Records & Results: Illustration Art June 7, 2018 Illustration Art Records & Results: Illustration Art Secrets & Set Designs: Illustration Art Breaks Records The June 5 sale of Illustration Art at Swann Galleries broke long-standing records and brought new artists to auction for the first…
Read more about Pride Month: Some Artists I Love June 4, 2018 Swann Pride Month: Some Artists I Love This post is by Keavy Handley-Byrne of our Photographs & Photobooks department. To celebrate Pride Month, I wanted to share a couple of queer artists’ work in recognition of their…
Read more about The Original Beaver Map & Its Legacy June 1, 2018 Maps & Atlases The Original Beaver Map & Its Legacy Tucked into the top left corner of an eighteenth-century map in our June 7 auction of Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books is a vignette that at…
Read more about Interview with Rick Meyerowitz: “A Literate, Civilized & Mature Fellow” May 25, 2018 Illustration Art Interview with Rick Meyerowitz: “A Literate, Civilized & Mature Fellow” Artist and illustrator Rick Meyerowitz was kind enough to talk to us in advance of our June 5 sale of Illustration Art, which will include highlights from his personal collection,…
Read more about Records & Results: Contemporary Art May 24, 2018 Contemporary Art Records & Results: Contemporary Art Abstract Attractions We offered nearly 400 works by some of the twentieth century’s greatest innovators in our May 22 auction of Contemporary Art. Abstract works ruled the day, with…
Read more about Records & Results: 19th & 20th Century Literature May 17, 2018 Books & Manuscripts Records & Results: 19th & 20th Century Literature Science fiction ruled on May 15 at our auction of 19th & 20th Century Literature. Selections from the Estate of Stanley Simon, featuring 84 rare and first editions of cornerstones…