Phillips Auction “Watercolors” Exhibition

450 West 15th Street 3rd Fl
New York, New York
October 1 – October 19

Phillips Auction Presents: Watercolors

“Watercolors” is a curated selling exhibition of a diverse group of contemporary works. The artists featured moved beyond using watercolor medium as an auxiliary mode of expression. These artists embrace the medium, and consider their watercolor paintings autonomous and finished in their own right. The exhibition showcases over 80 abstract and figurative works that challenge the romantic ideologies associated with historical watercolor. Artists include heavyweights such as Eric Fischl and Alexis Rockman, as well as a spectrum of mid career and emerging  artists.

Watercolor as Secondary Tools and Sketches

Many artists regard watercolor as an secondary tool reserved for simple sketches and impromptu gestures. The medium is often considered too fickle and challenging to use for completed works of art. However, a new generation of artists, utilize contemporary aesthetic, innovation and expertise to  establish a unique movement. Finding new paths, and vacillating between ambition and humility, the Phillips Watercolors  exhibition is a landmark in the historical discourse.

Curation by Kristin Sancken

Kristin Sancken graduated in 2011 from the Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Sancken is a writer, curator, and art consultant specializing in planning high-profile exhibitions in collaboration with numerous arts institutions and contemporary artists. Her writing has been featured in Hyperallergic, Artnet News, Whitewall Magazine, Whitehot Magazine, Artsy, and many major auction catalogues.

A GalleryIntell video interview with Kristin Sancken speaks about her curation. She also offers a closer look at some of the artists in the exhibition, including the works of Willy Bo Richardson. GalleryIntell is a premier educational and advisory platform for art enthusiasts.

Watercolors Exhibition in Collaboration

Phillips auction Watercolors was organized in conjunction with Active Ideas Productions, Inc. AI Productions serves the artistic community by facilitating awareness of emerging artists and educating the public about their work.

Also in partnership are galleries 303, Ricco Maresca, Bravin Lee Programs, Greenberg Van Doren, Halsey McKay, Tripoli, Salomon Contemporary, Eli Ridgway, and Nicole Klagsburn.

Featuring Contemporary Works by

BEN BLATT, DELIA BROWN, JULIA COLAVITA, SERENA COLE, ANNIKA CONNOR, TEODOR DUMITRESCU, ERIC FISCHL, ROY FOWLER, RICHARD GABRIELE, JILL GALARNEAU, TIM GARDNER, JOHN GORDON GAULD, JUDITH HUDSON, AUBREY LEARNER, EVA LUNDSAGER, ANDREA MARY MARSHALL, MARTINA MOLIN, KANISHA RAJA, LAURIE REID, WILLY BO RICHARDSON, CHARLES RITCHIE, ALEXIS ROCKMAN, ELIZABETH ROGERS, LOLA SCHNABEL, BILLY SULLIVAN, PHILIP TAAFE AND DARIUS YEKTAI

Video from Opening Reception:

Press Release:
Phillips de Pury & Company Press Release

Article and Interview from GalleryIntell:
GalleryIntell Review

History of Phillips

Harry Phillips founded the auction house in 1796 in Westminster, London. Phillips gained international recognition by selling paintings from the estate of Queen Marie Antoinette and household items from Napoleon Bonaparte. Furthermore it remains the only auction house to have ever held a sale inside Buckingham Palace. Harry Phillips was an innovator who combined business acumen with showmanship. He introduced the concept of elaborate evening receptions before auctions – a standard practice in the auction business today.

Ownership of Phillips Auction House

Ownership of the company passed through Harry’s son and successors through the 1800s and early 1900s. By the 1970s, Phillips had expanded its categories to sell fine art, furniture and estate collections.

Bernard Arnault of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton purchased the company in 1999 and then soon after merged with esteemed private art dealers Simon de Pury and Daniela Luxembourg. The new team introduced sales of watches, jewels and design alongside Impressionist, American, Modern and Contemporary works of art. In 2002, Simon de Pury acquired a majority stake in the company.

In October 2008, luxury retail company Mercury Group acquired a majority stake to enable the company’s ongoing expansion. By February 2013, Mercury Group completed its acquisition and moved the business from Chelsea to 450 Park Avenue in New York. October 2014 heralded the opening of a new London headquarters at 30 Berkeley Square in Mayfair.

Worldwide Expansion

Phillips held its first auctions in Hong Kong in 2015, and it currently presents all categories including art, design, jewels and watches in the fast-growing Asian market. Outside of Hong Kong, Phillips has regional representatives and galleries across Jakarta, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo. In 2018, Phillips moved its Asia headquarters to the prestigious St. George’s building in Hong Kong’s art district.

Phillips has multiple world auction records to its name. It is a premier destination for buyers and sellers of modern, post-war, contemporary, American and Latin American works of art. In 2020, the company’s New York branch will move its headquarters to 432 Park Avenue.

Featured image: Music to Drive to 14, 2012, watercolor and gouache on paper