10 In-Demand Works on Artsy

In this weekly series, Artsy’s Curatorial team offers a look at the artworks that are currently gaining traction among collectors on Artsy. Looking at our internal data, we offer a selection of works that Artsy members are engaging with through inquiries, bids, page views, and saves. The following pieces are culled from recent online auctions and art fairs hosted on Artsy, as well as exhibitions and works added by our gallery partners.

Sol LeWitt, Arcs and Bands in Color (1999)

In the recently closed Koller: Prints & Multiples and PostWar & Contemporary auction on Artsy, this particular piece by Sol LeWitt was subject to a bidding frenzy. After a number of bidders fought for the lot, it sold at a hammer price well above its high estimate of CHF 9,000 ($9,515). This particular piece is typical of LeWitt’s signature works, such as his iconic “Wall Drawings.”

Browse available works by Sol LeWitt.

Miles Johnston, Last Chance (2019)

This work by British artist Miles Johnston was an instant hit with collectors, receiving an influx of inquiries soon after it was published on Artsy as part of Aux Gallery’s current solo show of the artist. It quickly sold in the days that followed. Johnston is based in Sweden and works primarily in pencil to create psychologically charged portraits. The artist already has a strong following, with nearly 1 million followers on Instagram.

Browse available works by Miles Johnston.

Claire Tabouret, George and Me (purple) (2020)

This work by French artist Claire Tabouret appears in the current group exhibition “Majeure Force” at L.A.’s Night Gallery. The painting gained particular interest this week, earning a high number of sales inquiries. Artsy listed Tabouret as an “emerging artist to watch” in a 2016 article; since then, she has had numerous solo shows at prominent galleries including Almine Rech and Perrotin, and her works have entered the collections of major institutions such as LACMA and the Perez Art Museum Miami. Tabouret’s works have also performed particularly well at auction, recently selling well above their high estimates at Phillips and Sotheby’s.

Browse available works by Claire Tabouret.

Masami Teraoka, Today’s Special, from 31 Flavors Invading Japan (1981)

Ahead of the Heritage: Prints & Multiples auction on July 15th, this piece by Japanese-American artist Masami Teraoka is garnering strong interest, with a high number of collectors saving the work, perhaps due to its accessible price point. Teraoka is best known for his humorous, contemporary riffs on traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut prints.

Browse available works by Masami Teraoka.

Delphine Desane, Can you see us now? (2020)

The ARTNOIR From: Friends To: Friends: Benefit Auction 2020, hosted exclusively on Artsy, drew significant interest from collectors over the past few weeks. The proceeds of the auction go towards the newly launched ARTNOIR Jar of Love Fund, an initiative intended to provide relief for people of color working in the arts. This particular work by the Paris-born artist Delphine Desane was subject to a high number of bids and page views. Inspired by her own experiences of Black womanhood and motherhood, the artist creates portraits of female subjects. Her work was also recently featured on the cover of Vogue Italia.

Browse available works by Delphine Desane.

Barry McGee, Untitled (2012)

The Bay Area artist Barry McGee got his start as a pioneering graffiti artist of San Francisco’s Mission School in the 1990s. His works—from paintings to prints to installations—employ a bold, colorful visual language that includes geometric patterns and a cast of characters. In his work, McGee addresses pressing social and political issues, like homelessness and privacy. This particular piece was recently uploaded to Artsy by Carmichael Gallery; shortly after, given McGee’s large amount of followers on the platform, it received a number of inquiries.

Browse available works by Barry McGee.

André Butzer, Untitled (2020)

This piece by German painter André Butzer met a flurry of inquiries as soon as the work was made available on Artsy. The piece was uploaded by New York gallery Metro Pictures and sold just days later. Earlier this year, Butzer made headlines when his collaboration with the fashion powerhouse Celine was announced. In his paintings, the artist imagines his own colorful, chaotic worlds—his own distorted interpretations of reality—employing a style that he’s described as “science-fiction expressionism.”

Browse available works by André Butzer.

Martin Whatson, Eternal Reflection (Purple) (2010)

Shortly after Dope! Gallery uploaded this work to Artsy, it received a stream of inquiries. Norwegian artist Martin Whatson began his career as a street artist in Oslo in the 1990s. His works are recognizable for the use of calligraphic and colorful scribbles within a larger grayscale image. The strong interest in this work may likely be due to its accessible price point compared to similar works by the artist.

Browse available works by Martin Whatson.

Phyllis Stephens, Natural Love (2020)

This Phyllis Stephens work received a number of inquiries this month and is currently on hold at the Brooklyn-based Richard Beavers Gallery, which is dedicated to showcasing the works of Black artists exploring social and political issues. Stephens, a fifth-generation quiltmaker who has been practicing for over 30 years, is lauded for conveying stories of African American life through her dynamic quilts.

Browse available works by Phyllis Stephens.

Hermann Nitsch, Untitled (2007)