Italian auction market diversifies with Roman Pop and 1970s Conceptual art

The Italian auction market is expanding beyond its traditional focus on Spatialism, object-painting, and Arte Povera to include Roman Pop art and 1970s Conceptual works. Only about twenty Italian artists achieve significant sales, even domestically, due to international market influence, risk aversion among sellers, and economic instability. Italy serves as a supply warehouse for foreign markets. Christie's Milan held a successful sale on April 5-6, 2016, during miart, achieving top prices for Alighiero Boetti's Mappa (€1,387,200), Lucio Fontana's works (€1,135,200 and €595,400), Paolo Scheggi's Intersuperficie curva (€505,200), and a record €517,800 for Tano Festa's Via Veneto 2. Finarte confirmed the Roman Pop trend on May 11-12 with the Furio Colombo collection. Sotheby's Milan sale on May 25-26 features multiple works by Mario Schifano, Tano Festa, Cesare Tacchi, Alighiero Boetti, Lucio Fontana, Enrico Castellani, Agostino Bonalumi, Vincenzo Agnetti, Tancredi, and Renato Guttuso. Dorotheum in Vienna will sell Italian works on June 1-2, including pieces by Carla Accardi, Fabio Mauri, Dadamaino, Alberto Biasi, and Nanda Vigo. Wannenes (June 9), Pandolfini (June 13), and Il Ponte (June 14) will close the season.