Ed Ruscha selected by Clark Cierlak

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Early this summer, Ed Ruscha is an artist to know. I just discussed him at Phillips de Pury, and here is a very different work as the top lot at Cierlak Clark Fine Arts on June 28 in Sherman Oaks, California.

It is an acrylic on paper made in 1988, entitled Electric Palette. This artwork shows a painter's palette with a few spots of color. The edges and spots are completely blurred.

From the same period, there are two interesting results in the archives of Christie's, both sold on 14 November 2007: Ship Talk, three blurred boats on the horizon, 1988, 140 x 338 cm, $ 1.8 million inclusive; and a blurred elephant climbing painfully a slope, 1986, 163 x 198 cm, $ 1.4 million including expenses.

Compared with previous works (including the one at Phillips de Pury), which provide such care to readability, these works are the exact opposite. Considering that the extremes can be joined, we conclude that they attest to the interest of the artist to research the sharpness.

Small, 83 x 60 cm, the work for sale by Clark Cierlak can not claim the high bids above. It is estimated 150 K $.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Unsold!

This shall not discourage us! Like last year, I take the opportunity of summer to visit websites of smaller auction houses.