The market for art proved that it remains strong this week when one of the abstract expressionist’s paintings sold for $28.1 million.
The 1948 work, titled only “PH-234” by its creator, by Christie’s in New York. Still made the oil painting at the height of his creative awakening so there was high demand for the piece.
has yet to release the name of the buyer. If it was a museum, the work will likely go on display where Still’s many fans can see it. If a private collector made the purchase, the piece could end up out of public view for many years to come.
The value of Still’s paintings, which rarely come on the market, are of particular concern to Denver. The city owns about 850 of his paintings, the bulk of his career output. Still kept a tight rein on his works and sold relatively few during his lifetime, despite his reputation as one of the most important American painters of the 20th century.
His widow donated his holdings to Denver in 2004, in exchange for the city’s promise to build a museum in his honor. opened in the Golden Triangle neighborhood in 2011.
Under the agreement, Denver can never sell or trade the works. But this week’s sale proves the city’s got a valuable treasure trove of art when it accepted the collection more than a decade ago.
Ray Mark Rinaldi: 303-954-1540, rrinaldi@denverpost.com or @rayrinaldi
