Modern & Contemporary

The team of specialists Vice Chairman Alasdair Nichol has built is one of the largest outside of New York City. Anne Henry, Head of the Modern and Contemporary Art Department, competed with several major New York City and international auction houses to win the plum consignment of the Lehman Brothers Collection. The sale was arguably the most talked-about collection of the fall, 2009 auction season. On the heels of this success, Freemans secured the Neuberger Berman Collection in 2010. Under the management of Mr. Nichol and Ms. Henry, both of these corporate collections achieved an exceptional 100% sell-through rate, bringing over $2.5 million, and more than doubling pre-sale estimates.

With two auctions a yearin May and November Modern & Contemporary auctions have added unprecedented numbers of new bidders, and more than eighty world auction records to Freeman’s list of successes. It also confirmed our reputation as a "safe pair of hands" when it comes to the often sensitive issue of deaccessioning corporate collections. Freeman’s was also chosen by HealthSouth shareholders to auction art from the collection of Richard Scrushy, former CEO of HealthSouth. This sale of May 15, 2011, included works by Picasso, Renoir, and Chagall as well as contemporary artists Patrick Hughes and Donald Roller Wilson.

Modern and Contemporary auctions are comprised of a carefully selected mix of works from a range of movements, including École de Paris, Surrealism, Pop, and Abstract Expressionism.  Freeman’s has had notable successes with sculpture including works by Lipchitz, Noguchi Bertoia, Botero, and Calder.

Highlights from recent auctions include:

· Lucio Fontana, "Concetto Spaziale" sold for $1,161,000
· Claes Oldenburg, "Model for Clothespin" realized $373,000
· Harry Bertoia, "Sound Sculpture" sold for $295,000
· Alexander Calder, "Azul, Amarillo, Blanco, Sobre Rojo" sold for $241,000

Freeman’s is also committed to promoting established, mid-career, or emerging artists originally from the Philadelphia area. The works of Vincent Desiderio, Bo Bartlett, Bill Scott, Edna Andrade, and Warren Rohrer have resulted in impressive auction results.

A strong component for many of these auctions has always been prints and multiples. On the broader international front, we have shown strong results for artists from two new major art markets: India and Russia. Latin American and African- American artists are also frequently featured, and eagerly sought after.

Freeman’s auctions attract an international audience. Ourteam of specialists is able to provide advice on the current market and help clients achieve the best results by reaching a world-wide buying base. We are known for continually offering quality material, welcoming consignments, from single objects to entire collections, and responding with discretion and expertise. Please contact a member of our Modern & Contemporary Department if you have any questions about our upcoming sales, or wish to discuss buying or consigning your modern and contemporary paintings, sculpture, or prints.