Courtesy Sotheby's

Sotheby's New York

Jasper Johns Alex Katz Fred Sandback John Currin Richard Prince Alex Katz The World's Wealthiest Artists? The Art World Steps Out for the Homeless

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Bassett explained that the gesture was meant as a protest against the art market’s focus on older artists. “All the artists represented in the auction are dead, so this was a guerrilla action to bridge the gap, a flag-waving in the name of the new creative generation,” he said. He was spotted on the ledge of Sotheby's roof by a security guard, who alerted authorities.

In fact, the auction did include work from living artists, including Alex Katz, Jasper Johns, Richard Prince, and John Currin, so it was not entirely clear whether he was speaking metaphorically or if he was confused. A New York judge has dismissed trespassing charges against the artist.

Apparently "string art" is out of fashion this season: Two days later, at Phillips de Pury & Company’s contemporary art sale on Thursday, Nov. 12., a 1974 black string sculpture by Fred Sandback, estimated at $80–120,000, failed to reach its reserve.

Read more at NBC New York.