Christie’s Summer 2021 Residency in Aspen: Out West

 Christie’s announces the second selling exhibition for its Summer 2021 Aspen residency, OUT WEST (July 17-28).

Christie’s latest private selling exhibition, OUT WEST, encapsulates the progression of various narratives and visions of the American West as reflected in 20^th and 21^st Century artwork. Works by major artists across various disciplines are represented in the exhibition, from Thomas Hart Benton, to Richard Misrach, and Wayne Thiebaud, all uniquely inspired by the American West. Paying homage to Aspen and the surrounding region, OUT WEST features works by artists who worked in, were inspired by, and depicted the American West. From Ed Ruscha mountain paintings to Richard Prince’s cowboys, OUT WEST brings together a group of artists connected by their love of western imagery and landscape. The private selling exhibition will take place this summer in a pop-up gallery space nestled at the base of Aspen Mountain from 17-28 July, 2021.

Emily Kaplan, Senior Specialist, Post-War & Contemporary Art, comments: “The ‘Wild West’ is both a symptom and symbol of mankind’s unparalleled advancement and fascination with exploration in the 20^th Century. This radical shift away from traditionally structured society towards a preference for freedom and self-reliance was also mirrored in the art-making shifts that occurred in the 20^th and 21^st Century. OUT WEST showcases the curiosity, imagination, and wonder of the new frontier explored by major modern and contemporary artists of the 20^th Century.”

One of the earliest works in the exhibition is John Rogers Cox’s golden Wheat Fields oil from 1943, demonstrating the artist’s uniquely magical depictions of landscapes. “A wheat field has a whispering sound and an awe-inspiring quality like drifting music and, like an ocean, it gives you a lonely feeling,” said the artist. The uncanny and surreal are also manifested in a highlight of the exhibition, Mark Tansey’s (First) Study for Forward Retreat from 1986. The painting has remained in the same collection for over 20 years and is the first study for a canvas that presently resides in the collection of The Broad, Los Angeles. Depicted in the work are three inverted horseback riders seated backwards, peering through binoculars behind them. With this work, Tansey has embodied a meditation on the progression of history and art-making as creative destruction of the past.

Kat Widing, Specialist, Post-War & Contemporary Art, remarks: “The nostalgia of the ‘Wild West’ lies in the excitement of being at the edge of discovery. Groundbreaking ways of expression have all blossomed from risk-taking and experimentation amid the unknown. OUT WEST is a celebration of the possibilities that propel history and art history forward. It is a special moment for Christie’s to host this exhibition within the very landscape that inspired these artists.”

Out West will be open to the public from July 17-28 with hours of 11am - 5pm from Monday to Saturday. Please contact Aspen2021@christies.com for further details or to arrange a guided visit with Christie’s on-site specialists.

Additionally on view, from July 16-24, is Handbags | Out West, a curated selection of collectible handbags. During this week, Christie’s welcomes clients to meet our Handbags & Accessories Specialists and discover a curated selection available for immediate purchase. Alongside timeless pieces to build the foundation of a collection, the offering will also include contemporary takes on enduring classics, such as the Hermès limited edition Mini Picnic Kelly 20 and custom, horseshoe-stamped pieces in some of the brand’s most desirable colors. The crown jewel of the selection is an Hermès Exceptional, Gris Cendré Himalaya Birkin 30 with Diamond Hardware, whose delicate color-gradation famously mimics the snow-capped Himalaya mountains, and features 18k White Gold Hardware inset with brilliant diamonds. Prices for private sale Handbags begin at $20,000.

The selection will be on view at Christie’s Aspen and available to browse online.

Christie’s “Summer in Aspen”

Christie’s pop-up program “Summer in Aspen” continues the company’s long-standing tradition of summer programming, with the addition this season of a dedicated gallery space in downtown Aspen. Christie’s Gallery will temporarily occupy Christie’s International Real Estate Aspen, located at 520 E Durant Ave., and will be open from 11am - 5pm, Monday to Saturday, from July 3 through August 8.

Throughout the month, Christie’s has organized a series of rotating thematic exhibitions leading with 20/21^st century art, specially curated private sales property, luxury objects available for immediate sale, and a preview of Fall 2021 auction highlights showcasing a rich array of fine art and objects. Taking place alongside exhibitions are a series of client events and educational programming focused on topical issues in the art world. Visit Christie’s Summer in Aspen to learn more and discover our upcoming programs.

The summer residency program resumes Christie’s long-running strategy of creating pop-up engagement opportunities in key locations around the U.S. and builds on the success of similar client-led programming initiatives in the Hamptons, Palm Beach and Chicago.

Upcoming “Summer in Aspen” Exhibitions:

July 30  – Aug 8 | Fall Auction Highlights 

The series of exhibitions will close with a first-look at highlights included Christie’s 20/21 Century Art marquee sales. Spanning the most iconic names of 20^th and 21^st century art, the preview exhibition will include works from renowned private collections showcased for the first time at Christie’s Aspen.

Exhibitions will hang in the Christie’s Aspen space for public exhibition and will also be featured virtually at  www.christies.com/exhibitions/out-west

Location Details and Contact Information 

Christie’s Aspen

Dates:  July 3 to August 8

Location: Christie’s International Real Estate Aspen, 520 E. Durant Avenue, Ste. 205, Aspen

Hours of Operation: 11am – 5pm, Monday to Saturday

------

Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business. Renowned and trusted for its expert live and online auctions, as well as its bespoke private sales, Christie’s offers a full portfolio of global services to its clients, including art appraisal, art financing, international real estate and education. Christie’s has a physical presence in 46 countries, throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, with flagship international sales hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva. It also is the only international auction house authorized to hold sales in mainland China (Shanghai).

Christie’s auctions span more than 80 art and luxury categories, at price points ranging from $200 to over $100 million. In recent years, Christie’s has achieved the world record price for an artwork at auction (Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvador Mundi, 2017), for a single collection sale (the Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller, 2018), and for a work by a living artist (Jeff Koons’ Rabbit, 2019).

Christie’s Private Sales offers a seamless service for buying and selling art, jewellery and watches outside of the auction calendar, working exclusively with Christie’s specialists at a client’s individual pace.

Recent innovations at Christie’s include the groundbreaking sale of the first NFT for a digital work of art ever offered at a major auction house (Beeple’s Everydays, March 2021), with the unprecedented acceptance of cryptocurrency as a means of payment. As an industry leader in digital innovation, Christie’s also continues to pioneer new technologies that are redefining the business of art, including the creation of viewing and bidding experiences that integrate augmented reality, global livestreaming, buy-now channels, and hybrid sales formats. 

Christie’s is dedicated to advancing responsible culture throughout its business and communities worldwide, including achieving sustainability through net zero carbon emissions by 2030, and actively using its platform in the art world to amplify under-represented voices and support positive change.