15 Most Expensive Art Pieces Ever Sold

15 Most Expensive Art Pieces Ever Sold

The world of art is where the realm of beauty meets extravagance. The masterpieces created by artists tend to transcend their value because of their status, taste, and even cultural significance. This are some of the few elements that tend fascinate humans into purchasing these expensive pieces.

This article explores a world where paintings and pieces of art have become the ultimate luxury item. The sale of this pieces reminds us that there are commodities beyond price tags. The art, the history and the power of art is what tends to attract humans into paying such absurd amounts for pieces of art.

1.Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci

Salvator Mundi, a painting ascribed to Leonardo da Vinci was sold for $450.3 million at Christie’s in New York on November 15, 2017. This makes it one of the most expensive work of art ever sold in history.

The Salvator Mundi painting depicts Jesus as the Savior of the World, as per conventional Christian imagery. Leonardo da Vinci was a master of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses great contrasts between light and dark to give the subject depth.

Leonardo da Vinci uses this technique to make a representation of Jesus’ face, with its mysterious and tranquil expression. The folds on his clothing, and the reflections within the crystal orb demonstrate the artist’s exquisite attention to detail.

2.Interchange by Willem de Kooning

The Interchange painting is regarded as one Willem de Kooning’s most celebrated works. This piece like all his others depicts his dynamic and energetic brushwork. The sale of the piece at $300 million made it one of the most expensive private art transactions at the time.

The painting is a classic example of Willem de Kooning’s abstract expressionist style. Like all his other works, the Interchange contains aggressive, gestural brushwork, dynamic, whirling forms, and a complex color and texture interplay.

3.The Card Players by Paul Cézanne

The Card Players series contains several variations on the same theme, which essentially depict Provençal peasants playing cards. The sale of this painting for over $250 million in a private sale back in 2011 makes it one of the most expensive art pieces ever sold.

This series of paintings is recognized for its enormous contribution to contemporary art growth and the exploration of form, color, and composition. Paul’s art is considered one of the artist’s masterpieces and is celebrated for its simplicity and depth.

The whole series captures the timeless, universal aspects of human existence while still conveying the quiet dignity of everyday life in rural Provence.

4.Nafea Faa Ipoipo by Paul Gauguin

The sale of Paul Gauguin’s piece, Nafea Faa Ipoipo at approximately $210 million in a private sale back in 2014 make it one of the most expensive art pieces to have ever been sold. The term, Nafea Faa Ipoipo which translates When Will You Marry? Features a vivid depiction of Tahitian women and was created during his time in Tahiti.

The painting which is notable for its use of vibrant colors and the sense of exoticism suggests a sense of yearning which mirrors the Tahitian culture, and the artists own personal experiences.

5.Number 17A by Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock‘s Number 17A is a striking example of some of his best drip painting techniques. The famous painting made it on the list of the most expensive art pieces after it was sold for approximately $200 million in a private sale back in 2015.

The art piece is characterized by the chaotic yet controlled distribution of paint on a canvas. The piece was featured in the August 1949 edition of Life that put Jackson Pollock on the map since he introduced the drip painting technique to the world.

6.No. 6 (Violet, Green, and Red) by Mark Rothko

Mark Rothko‘s abstract expressionist work, No. 6 is quite large, simple, and emotionally evocative color fields. The art piece is a quintessential example of Mark Rothko’s style and theme. The sale of the piece for approximately $186 million in a private sale back in 2014 made it one of the most expensive pieces ever sold.

Three vertically stacked color fields dominate the canvas: violet at the top, green in the middle, and red at the bottom which creates some sort of illusion that the colors are floating on one another. This piece like all his other works is associated with deep, existential, and spiritual themes.

7.Nu Couché by Amedeo Modigliani

Amedeo Modigliani‘s Nu Couché is a sensuous and iconic reclining nude that was sold for $170.4 million back in 2015. The sale of this specific piece marked a record for the artist’s work in the world of art.

Modigliani’s brushwork which is quite smooth and flowing, adds to the sensuousness of the composition. This piece of art by Amedeo is not only an iconic but also a testament to his ability to capture the essence of the female form.

8.Wasserschlangen II (Water Serpents II) by Gustav Klimt

The Wasserschlangen II piece makes it to this list since it was sold for $170.4 million back in 2013. This famous piece is a part of his decorative style, known for its use of gold leaf and sensuous, sinuous figures.

This specific painting by Gustav draws inspiration from Greek and classical mythology. Gustav’s work in the art industry made him quite a significant figure in the Viennese art scene during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His innovative style and technique had a profound influence on the development of modern art.

9.La Femme d’Alger (Version “O”) by Pablo Picasso

The piece, Picasso’s La Femme d’Alger is marked by the deconstruction of form, abstraction, and a complex interplay of geometric shapes. Pablo’s technique in trying to reassemble the female figure is quite eye-catching. The La Femme d’Alger pice made it to this list since it was sold at $179.4 million in 2015.

This painting is part of Picasso’s series inspired by the works of Eugène Delacroix. The piece of art is a vibrant and cubist reinterpretation of a famous work. This piece like all his other pieces employs a rich and varied palette that creates a sense of depth and vibrancy.

10.Les Femmes d’Alger (Version “L”) by Pablo Picasso

This is another piece from Picasso‘s series which is also known for its intricate geometric patterns and the bold use of color. This time round Picasso reinvents and reimagines the subject matter through his own artistic language, infusing it with a modern and abstract sensibility.

The famous art piece was sold for $160 million back in 2015. Picasso employs a rich and varied palette that creates a sense of depth and vibrancy that is quite eye-catching. This specific piece holds historical and cultural significance as it reflects the artist’s ability to engage with art history.

11.Domplatz, Mailand by Gerhard Richter

This art piece by Gerhard Richter is considered to be an outstanding example of the artist’s 1960s photo-painting technique. This specific technique was used by the artists in the post-war years during his time at the Düsseldorf Art Academy.

This painting made it to this list since it was sold in May 2013 at the Sotheby’s spring auction for $37.1 million. The rainy and reflective surface in the painting creates a sense of atmosphere and mood. The subdued colors and the glistening also add to the overall theme of the piece.

12.Abstraktes Bild by Gerhard Richter

The Abstraktes Bild piece by Gerhard hold some extraordinary chromatic power and glorious light effects that is quite eye-catching. This famous piece was sold at the Sotheby’s auction in February 2015 for an unbelievable $44.5 million making it one of the most expensive piece ever sold.

Richter’s painting explores the enigmatic juncture of sense and non-sense. Richter’s technique often sets his work apart from the rest. His technique normally involves layering paint to create texture and depth within the paintings.

13.Hurting the Word Radio #2 by Ed Ruscha

Hurting the Word Radio #2 which was one Ed Ruscha’s earliest work was sold for $52.4 million in 2019 at Christie’s. It is presumed that the state of Los Angeles served as an inspiration for the electric blue of the canvas.

Ed Ruscha’s innovative use of language as a visual element has influenced subsequent generations of artists who continue to explore the relationships between text and image in their pieces. this like all his other text-based art pieces portray his unique ability to challenge traditional art forms by incorporating language into visual compositions.

14.Balloon Dog (Orange) by Jeff Koons

Jeff Koons’ Orange Balloon Dog formed part of his Balloon Dog series. The sale of this specific piece at $58.4 million at Christie’s Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale make it one of the most expensive art pieces ever sold.

The image of the balloon dog is connected with joyful associations with childhood, birthday parties, festive events, and playful moments. Jeff Koons drew inspiration from balloon animals, which are often created by twisting and shaping long into various forms at children’s parties and events.

15.The Journey of Humanity by Sacha Jafri

The piece, The Journey of Humanity created by a British artist by the name Sacha Jafri. The art piece was made by Sacha while in Atlantis The Palm hotel in Dubai, where he was spending his lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The sale of the piece for $62 million make it one if the most expensive pieces to have ever been sold. Another interesting fact about this piece is that it currently the largest canvas in the world, measuring over 5,000 square meters.

The record-breaking art sales only show how intrinsic the value of art and the history stored within them. The power that such art leaves behind in history is what truly makes us understand that there are commodities beyond the price tag.