Lucio Fontana's Concetto Spaziale Leads London Auctions as Market Recovers

In October 2017, the art scene in London, particularly during the autumn auctions and the Frieze art fair, showcased a clear trend toward large, colorful, and engaging pieces. Christie's Post War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale brought in £99.5 million with an impressive 83% sell-through rate, breaking records for artists like Grayson Perry, Howard Hodgkin, and Antony Gormley. Sotheby's also performed well, earning £50.3 million and an 88% sell-through rate, setting new records for Joseph Albers, Thierry de Cordier, and Alex da Corte. A standout moment was Lucio Fontana's Concetto spaziale, which sold for £10 million at Christie's. Combined, Italian art sales totaled £50.5 million, up from £41.8 million in 2016. At Frieze Masters, artwork by artists like Alexander Calder and Sheila Hicks was more accessible, highlighting a shift toward simplified forms and vibrant colors in contemporary art.