Full press release available here for additional background
In a historic moment, Leonora Carrington's Les Distractions de Dagobert, sold for a record-breaking $28.5m (est. $12-18m) after a ten minute bidding battle – smashing her former record of $3.3m, set at Sotheby’s in 202
- New record price places Carrington within the top 5 most valuable women artists at auction, alongside Georgia O’Keeffe, Frida Kahlo, Louise Bourgeois, and Joan Mitchell & top 4 most valuable Surrealist artists at auction, overtaking Max Ernst and Salvador Dali
- It also makes Carrington the most valuable British-born woman artist at auction
- The painting was acquired by Eduardo F. Costantini, a renowned collector with a longstanding commitment to supporting Latin American art and artists. Costantini is the founder of Malba, Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires - Fundación Costantini
Oliver Barker, Sotheby's Chairman and Auctioneer, fields bids in Modern Evening Auction
“An iconic painting, Les Distractions de Dagobert, is one the most admired works in the history of surrealism and an unparalleled masterpiece of Latin American art. I was the underbidder when she reached the artist's record 30 years ago and tonight once again, we made a new auction record! This masterpiece will be part of a collection where amongst other two important works by Remedios Varo and another record breaking Frida Kahlo are also found.” Eduardo F. Costantini, the founder of Malba, Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires - Fundación Costantini, and buyer of Les Distractions de Dagobert by Leonora Carrington
00:00 - 00:18 - Leonora Carrington's Les Distractions de Dagobert details
00:18 - 00:36 - Bidding begins
00:36 - 01:14 - Midway through bidding
01:14 - 01:40 - Final bids
01:40 - END - Winning bid
16 May 2024
