I going to have to agree with a post over at Animal:

While the NYPD was roughing up art-handlers and pro-union protestors outside, Christie’s sold the world’s most expensive photograph. Ta da: Rhein II (1999) by Andreas Gursky, one of an edition of six, $4,338,500. Not his best work. A boring, pricey autograph, if you will.

Wow. It’s amazing what an autograph can do.

From the press release -

New York, London – July 25, 2011 – The MTV Staying Alive Foundation today announced a dynamic new project to mark the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the AIDS virus.

Hosted at the Goss-Michael Foundation in Dallas and curated by The Future Tense, MTV RE:DEFINE will bring together original works, many specially commissioned for the project, from a bold roster of 30 of the world’s most exciting contemporary artists, photographers and sculptors, including key emerging talents. All 30 pieces will be auctioned, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, which encourages, energizes and empowers young people who are involved in HIV and AIDS awareness, education and prevention campaigns.
Since launching in 1984, MTV has worked with some of the most influential figures in contemporary art including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. For MTV RE:DEFINE, project curators The Future Tense have sourced and commissioned an eclectic selection of original artworks from both established and emerging artists, including Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Gérard Rancinan, Shepard Fairey and Katrin Fridriks.

More information and selected auction items after the jump.

Street artist David Le Fleming has painted a Ford Mondeo and put it up for grabs on Ebay. “There is an underlying narrative linking the various elements together. The characters are charmingly comical, yet there is something subtly dark in the expressions – they are confidently self-mocking, with constant references to fashion and advertising. In a way it is a visual commentary on cool itself. ”

Auction ends on April 4, 2011.

Images of the car follow.

MADE.COM has joined forces with the ICA London to produce Psychedelic!, an exhibition and auction featuring products from MADE tweaked by famous artists. Damien Hirst and Ai Weiwei both offer bikes. Alison Jackson offers a distinct take on the fooseball table, and other artists take their hands to Arche Lamps.

The auction is on March 29, 2011. Preview runs from March 27, 2011.

Mr. Hirst’s bike is above. See Ai Weiwei’s bike after the jump.

Tomorrow (January 11, 2011) in London, 67 top works by street artists hit the block at Bonhams Urban Art Auction. Shepard Fairey covers the catalog, and has several strong pieces up for sale, despite the rather unique Banksy I shared yesterday.

Speaking of Banksy, one of the most intriguing lots is no. 35, ‘Watchtower’ (2007) a signed and numbered (‘7/15′) olive wood sculpture, shown above. The work is one of several 3-dimensional pieces in the auction, the others coming from Jon Whitbread and Sez, a collaboration between the stone carver and graffiti writer, and a resin sculpture by German artist RESO. These sculptural works complement a strong selection of works by Blek Le Rat, D*Face, and Futura.

My personal highlights come after the jump. View all the lots at Bonhams.

Luxist reports, “A piece of art that controversial artist Banksy created for Greenpeace will be sold at Bonhams London along with other of his work at the Urban Art auction on January 11. The piece, which was created for Greenpeace’s Save or Delete campaign to draw attention to deforestation, features characters from Disney’s The Jungle Book bound, blindfolded and facing an executioner against a backdrop of ravaged tree stumps. The piece was printed but never put into circulation because of the “protectionist policies at Disney.” The piece is estimated at £60,000 – 80,000, the unique piece (lot 67) and was given to the vendor by the artist himself. The sale also features many other Banksy works at a variety of price points. Prices for Banksy have continued to rise in recent years and the success of his now-Oscar-buzzed documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop, has only contributed to his fame.”

A full preview of the sale will run on these pages tomorrow.

Kaws, Hirst… even a trip to Art Basel. These are just some of the lots at the Angel Art Auction, taking place on November 18, 2010 in Los Angeles.

A CONTEMPORARY ART AUCTION BENEFITING PROJECT ANGEL FOOD.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH, 2010
7:00PM Cocktails & Viewing
8:00PM Live Auction

CREATIVE ARTISTS AGENCY
2000 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles

ON VIEW NOVEMBER 8TH-18TH

Highlights after the jump.

Wallpaper* reports, “Phillips de Pury’s new flagship gallery in New York has got off to an auspicious start. The inaugural ‘Carte Blanche’ and ‘Contemporary Art Part I’ auction at the 20,000 sq ft space on Park Avenue fetched an epic $137 million – its most successful to date – with Andy Warhol’s ‘Men in Her Life’ (1962) going for $63.4 million alone, the second highest figure ever paid for a Warhol at auction. ”

The space is located at the corner of 57th and Park Avenue.

Highlights from the first auction held at Phillips de Pury’s new NYC flagship after the jump.

Current heroes of street art hit the block alongside legends of contemporary art next week at Bloomsbury for their Urban Contemporary Art Auction. Lots featuring Banksy, Blek Le Rat, and Nick Walker are sure to satisfy the collecting urges of street art fans. For those with different taste, there are ample offerings from names like Hirst, Emin, Stella, and Joe Black.

The auction is set for October 21, 2010, in Mayfair. View all 198 lots at Bloomsbury.

A few that caught my eye after the leap.

On October 17, 2010, Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) – L.A.’s premier auction house for vintage 20th Century Modern Art, Design and Furniture – celebrates its 50th Auction since opening in 1992. The sale, focused on 20th-Century Modern Art, Design and Furniture will include a strong selection of Fine Art, such as original works by Pablo Picasso, Ed Ruscha, Bernard Buffet, Niki de Saint Phalle, and John McLaughlin, as well as rare fine prints and multiples by David Hockney, Claude Lalanne, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.  Also, a collection of five Gertrud and Otto Natzler ceramics will trade hands for the first time since original purchase in the 1950s, one of which is a very large exhibition piece with the desirable volcanic glaze.

Above is lot 76, a pair of lounge chairs by Frank O. Gehry. Called “Easy Edges,” the corrugated cardboard chairs are 29″h x 23.75″w x 32″d, and were designed in 1972. The pair is estimated to sell for $6,000-9,000.

Gehry’s chairs are make up of my favorite lots from the sale. After the jump, I’ve selected a few more including ceramics by Picasso, chairs by Bill Coleman, and a stunning motorcycle from BMW.

Auctions are held at the LAMA showroom: 16145 Hart St. Van Nuys, CA 91406. Full lots can be viewed at LAMA.