Art Cologne

July/August 2009 Fair Reviews

Art Chicago

London Original Print Fair

Sam Francis Emil Nolde Max Ernst New York Sales Preview Obamas Bring Bold Art to the White House Dispute Resolved Over Nazi-Stolen Nolde Painting Impressionist & Modern Art Virginia Museum Acquires German Expressionism Collection

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COLOGNE—This year the fair’s 43rd edition debuted under the direction of the Los Angeles dealer Daniel Hug. The previous director, Gerard Goodrow, had winnowed down the exhibitor count in 2008, amid criticism from many participants that the fair had declined in status. Hug further slashed some 30 names, reducing the total count to 180. He also moved the fair to the more convenient Hall 11 of the Kölnmesse. All in all, Hug pulled off a strong showing, attracting 56,000 visitors — but they were reserved in their spending.

At the booth of Munich’s Galerie Thomas, a 40-year Cologne veteran, director Heike Grossman said business had been a little slower this year. But she’d seen collectors from Belgium, Holland, France, and the U.S., and said the gallery had sold, among other works, a Sam Francis painting; two pieces by Emil Nolde, at prices ranging from about $25,000 to $350,000; and a 1997 bronze cast of Max Ernst’s 1961 plaster L’Imbecile.

Red dots were also in evidence at Galerie Löhrl, located in the German city Mönchengladbach. A group of works by Blinky Palermo went for €10,000 ($14,000) each, and two Annett Stuth photographs sold for €3,800 ($5,300) each — one example is Mir ist das Leben Lieber...., 2009, from an edition of six.

Cologne gallerist Brigitte Schenk was content with her dealings, having parted with Trainables, a 2000 watercolor by goth rocker Marilyn Manson, for €29,000 ($40,500), as well as a small, two-panel 2007 self-portrait painting by Hoor Al-Qasimi, who also happens to be the director of the Sharjah Biennial in the United Arab Emirates. The latter piece went to a German collector for €4,000 ($5,600). Schenk noted that the fair has always been good to her gallery: "You don’t sense the economic crisis here.

"Art Cologne" originally appeared in the July/August 2009 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's July/August 2009 Table of Contents.