The Contemporary British artist Martin Creed will add his creation to the list of previous ‘Duveens’ artists: Mark Wallinger, Michael Landy, Anya Gallaccio and Mona Hatoum, with a work to be unveiled in the summer.
The sponsorship is yet another illustration of Sotheby’s bid to raise their profile in the contemporary art world.
They have also announced that their flagship early spring contemporary sales, which they traditionally held back to back with Christie’s immediately after the impressionist and modern sales, will now be held at the end of February, fully three weeks later than their competitor.
The auction house cited the “spectacular growth seen in the contemporary market” (348 per cent in the value of London sales between 2001 and 2006) and a new collecting base predominantly focused on post-War and contemporary art as the reasons for their decision to separate and establish a stand-alone contemporary week in London.
Sotheby’s raise the contemporary stakes
Sotheby’s have agreed to sponsor Tate Britain’s Duveens Commission, thereby allowing this site-specific sculpture commission to become an annual rather than a biennial event.
