Marlene Dumas' "Miss January" has set a New World Record Price achieved for a Living Female Artist

The room was filled with energy from start to finish, with spirited bidding coming in globally from clients on the phone, in the room, and online. In total, the sale achieved $96.5 million, selling 92% by lot and 97% by value bringing the week’s running total to $626.5 million. The top lot of the sale was Baby Boom, a 1982 triple portrait by Jean-Michel Basquiat, which sold for $23.4 million. 

The sale showcased an array of the finest art from the post-war and contemporary eras, beginning with a dedicated group, For Art's Sake: Selected Works by Tigui Atencio & Ago Demirjian. The selection achieved a combined total of $25.4 million, led by Cecily Brown’s Bedtime Story, which sold for $6.2 million. Records were set for four artists in total, including Marlene Dumas whose magnum opus Miss January sold for $13.6 million, establishing a new record price for work of art by a living female artist to sell at auction.  

Isabella Lauria, Head of the 21st Century Evening Sale, remarks, “We were thrilled with the outcome of our sale this evening. We met the market’s demand for quality works of great provenance, beginning with the group brilliantly selected by Tiqui Atencio and Ago Demirdjian, who stand among the most important collectors of contemporary art today. We were privileged to offer an array of best-in-class examples by women around the world, and were proud to establish new records for Simone Leigh, Emma McIntyre, and a benchmark price for a living female artist with Miss January by Marlene Dumas selling for an incredible $13.6 million.” 

Main Image: Miss January by Marlene Dumas, Courtesy Christie's