The millennial artist who struck art-market gold
The auctioneer clutched the Sotheby’s lectern, rocking his sharp-suited body to some silent beat. “And lot number four is the Flora Yukhnovich, I’ll Have What She’s Having, this wonderful painting,” he announced, “lot of interest in the picture, wonderful thing here.” The wonderful thing, a tousle of baby blue spiked with millennial pink, duly appeared on the screen beside him. “And I want to start the bidding here at £40,000… 40,000… 50,000… 60,000 now… 70,000.” The congregation yipped as he jerked his arms around. “At 180… now 200,000.”
After a few minutes, the numbers had gone interstellar. “Give me 600,000 please… give me a million,” he cajoled. “At one-million-three – this fabulous picture – £1,600,000 – difficult pictures to find – £1,800,000 – new artist record, of course… I’m selling it here, at £1,850,000, the hammer is coming up here.” The gavel came down as breezy applause broke out. The mood at Sotheby’s London that October evening in 2021 was, as ever, serene insouciance.