May 24, 2013

Irma Boom: Building Books

LACMA’s Decorative Arts & Design Council invites you to a special lecture and book signing by world-renowned graphic designer Irma Boom.

Irma Boom will be speaking about her career, the place of books in contemporary society, and her experience designing LACMA’s Handbook of California Design.

The event takes place on Thursday, May 30th at 7 p.m. — RSVP while there are still seats left!

May 23, 2013

Outstanding Post Auction Lots Still Available

Exceptional Investment Opportunities
from the Giants of Modern

Today, Peter and Dan combine forces to spotlight several amazing lots from last Sunday’s record-breaking auction that are still available for purchase — all at amazing prices. The lots Peter and Dan highlight are just the tip of the iceberg. Please see our complete list of unsold lots.

May 21, 2013

International Bidding Drives California Works to New Highs

The May 19, 2013 auction broke world records for a work by Vija Celmins, the highest price achieved at auction for a work on canvas by the artist, and a work by Joe Goode, which set a new world auction record for any work by the artist.

LAMA achieved a new company record for total sales, realizing $3.46 million and selling 120% of the 469 lots by value. Sunday’s auction firmly establishes LAMA’s position as an international marketplace for Modern Art & Design.

May 18, 2013

Getting Ready for the May 19th Modern Art & Design Auction

Time to get ready for tomorrow’s auction.
Continue reading for helpful auction tips.

May 17, 2013

Peter’s Picks of the Day: Ceramics

Today I’d very much like to discuss a group of remarkable ceramists represented in Sunday’s auction. These master craftsmen changed our artistic recognition of the clay medium. Glen Lukens, Peter Voulkos, and Ken Price revolutionized ceramics in Los Angeles and the world beyond.

May 16, 2013

Peter’s Auction Pick of the Day: Billy Al Bengston and Ken Price

Today, I’d like to share some thoughts about the great Los Angeles artists Billy Al Bengston and Ken Price, their epic friendship, and how they are both children and fathers of the Southern California art scene.

This week LAMA was honored by a visit from Mr. Bengston and he retains the same wit and magnetism he carried so effortlessly 50 years ago. We’re honored to spotlight the legend of Bengston and Price.

Dan on Design: J. R. Davidson Coffee Table Revolution

It is impossible to imagine today, but back in 1951 the concept of the “coffee table” was still relatively new. The September 1951 issue of Sunset magazine even boasts an article titled “How do you use a coffee table?” These now ubiquitous objects were at one time so modern that people literally needed an instruction manual.

By a stroke of luck, today I’m able to engage in everyone’s favorite game of Compare and Contrast since this Sunday’s auction features two coffee tables designed by J. R. Davidson from the Kingsley residence.

May 15, 2013

Peter’s Auction Pick of the Day: Vija Celmins Painting from 1964

For over twenty years, Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) has been privileged to auction over 25,000 works of modern art and design, but last February a longtime friend and client of LAMA presented me one of the most important works LAMA has ever represented: Vija Celmins’ Untitled (Knife and Dish) (Lot 160) from her seminal year of 1964.

I had never seen a Celmins painting from this legendary era in-person and for good reason – the artist only created these object paintings for a brief period in 1964. They are therefore extremely rare; experts have speculated that there are fewer than ten such paintings in existence. The works that have survived, and are publicly known, are in the Whitney Museum of American Art, MoMA, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, as well as important private collections.