Art Basel kicked off over the weekend, with thousands of art collectors and enthusiasts descending upon Miami Beach to join in on all the festivities. More than 270 galleries came together for the art fair’s 21st edition, which was brimming with stunning and ambitious works. While less pricey artwork is certainly available for buyers, many pieces can range anywhere from $10,000 to $10 million. Just keep in mind that if you were simply seeking a banana duct-taped to a wall, it was a whopping $120,000.
There weren’t any bananas at this year’s event, but there definitely was no shortage of pricey artwork. If you’d like to check out some of the most expensive pieces at Art Basel Miami Beach this year, one valuing as high as $45 million, read on:
Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity-Nets by Gold (2007)
While two of Yayoi Kusama’s “Infinity Net” paintings sold for $3.2 million and $3 million at this year’s fair, one of the abstract works is listed for $4,000,001 – $5,000,000.
Plantoir, Red (mid-scale) by Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen (2001)
This large “Plantoir” trowel sculpture by artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen is currently available for about $5.5 million.
Marlene Dumas’s The Schoolboys (1986–87)
An oil painting by Marlene Dumas, The Schoolboys (1986–87), sold at David Zwirner’s booth for $9 million. It is part of a small group of portraits made by the South African artist in the late 1980s.
Philip Guston’s Painter at Night (1979)
On the first day of the art fair, Hauser & Wirth sold Philip Guston’s 1979 oil-on-canvas painting, Painter at Night, for $20 million. By far, it is the most expensive reported sale.
Frank Stella’s Delta (1958)
Frank Stella’s rare Delta (1958), on offer by Yares Art, is one of the most expensive works at this year’s Art Basel. It is priced at $45 million and is the first black painting that the artist ever created.
You can find more artwork from Art Basel Miami Beach here.