Articles, 2007–09
Lindsay is a journalist covering the art world. She reports for Bloomberg News and other publications including The Art Newspaper, ARTnews and Art + Auction.Articles written after June 1, 2009 appear on the blog and are tagged with the name of their publication.
May 2009
Sotheby's Impressionist Sale Hits 7-Year Low as Picasso FlopsBloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock and Philip Boroff, May 6 - The art market flunked a stress test last night as Sotheby's posted its lowest total for a New York Impressionist and modern art auction since November 2001. The top two lots, by Picasso and Alberto Giacometti, failed to sell.
Madoff Victim Sells Picasso for $14.6 Million at Christie's
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock and Philip Boroff, May 7 - A five-foot-tall Picasso was sold by a victim of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme last night at Christie's International for $14.6 million, easing the mood from the day before at Sotheby's, when one of the painter's works flopped.
Sotheby's Contemporary Art Sale Slumps 87% From Year-Ago Record
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock and Philip Boroff, May 13 - Actor Owen Wilson, billionaire Eli Broad and former Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz watched the art market take another knock last night as Sotheby's posted its smallest New York contemporary auction since May 2003.
Christie's Auction Beats Estimate, Boosts Confidence
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock and Philip Boroff, May 14 - Hedge-fund manager Steven Cohen and tennis great John McEnroe watched as Christie's International gave the art market a shot in the arm and auctioned $93.7 million of works, beating the low estimate.
Nude Seymour, Naughty Santa Featured at Brant Museum
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, May 20 - Looking like a hunter's stuffed trophy, the sculpture of Stephanie Seymour's head and nude torso is mounted on the wall of the Brant Foundation Art Study Center in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Salander, Indicted in Gallery Woes, Takes Job -- in Gallery
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock and Philip Boroff, May 27 - Manhattan art dealer Lawrence B. Salander is trying to rise from the ashes of a 100-count indictment in a quaint storefront in pastoral Millbrook, New York, about two hours north of the city.
April 2009
SAC's Cohen Shows Off $137 Million 'Woman' at Sotheby's ExhibitBloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock and Philip Boroff, April 1 - Steven Cohen, who runs the $14 billion hedge-fund manager SAC Capital Advisors, is raising his profile as an art collector with an unusual loan show at Sotheby's in New York.
Gallery Director Pleads Guilty to Falsifying Records
Bloomberg
By Philip Boroff and Lindsay Pollock, April 9 - The director of a New York art gallery whose proprietor has been charged with stealing $88 million from investors, collectors and Bank of America Corp. pleaded guilty to falsifying business records.
Madoff Investor Puts Picasso 'Musketeer' on Sale at Christie's
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, May 4 - A collector who lost money in Bernard Madoff's $65 billion Ponzi scheme is quietly selling a major Picasso painting on Wednesday at Christie's International in New York.
March 2009
‘Broken’ Dealer Salander Is Arrested on Fraud ChargesBloomberg
By Philip Boroff and Lindsay Pollock, March 27 - Bankrupt New York art dealer Lawrence Salander sat manacled and unshaven in a paint- splattered sweat shirt in criminal court yesterday…
It’s the Leverage Stupid! Economist Brock Finds Gains in Rubens
Bloomberg
SAC Capital’s Steve Cohen Lends Sotheby’s 20 Artworks
Bloomberg
‘Meat Head’ Bronze at $250,000 Highlights Armory Show in N.Y.
Bloomberg
Smirking Madoff Portrait for $100,000 Finds No Buyers at Armory
Bloomberg
February 2009
Like French Kings, Thain’s $35,000 Commode Didn’t Store SocksBloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Feb. 19 - John Thain’s $35,000 commode is giving new life to a dowdy piece of furniture…
January 2009
Turner’s Portrait of Toga-Clad Revelers Sells for $13 Million
Bloomberg
Critics Blast Brandeis Plan to Close Rose Museum, Sell Artworks
Bloomberg
Thain’s $25,000 Table Is Bargain to Dealers at Antiques Show
Bloomberg
Sotheby’s Sacks Auctioneer, Furniture Experts in U.S. Offices
Bloomberg
Merkin’s Art Adviser Bought Expensive Rothkos, Lost Millions
Bloomberg
December 2008
Dreier Used Ellsworth Kelly Images on Web Without Artist Credit
Bloomberg
Eli Broad, Jay-Z Tour Slower Miami Art Fair, Collectors Haggle
Bloomberg
Miami Art Fair Sports Slower Pace, Lower Prices, Careful Buyers
Bloomberg
Glitz Meets Grim as Miami Basel Fair Opens in Pallid Art Market
Bloomberg
October 2008
First Night Report
The Art Newspaper: Frieze Art Fair Edition
June 2008
Market keeps moving, but the brakes start to go on
The Art Newspaper: Art Basel Edition
By Lindsay Pollock, June 6 - Good deals, but buyers take longer to make up their minds...
Why the rise of the private museum is rewriting the rules of the market
The Art Newspaper: Art Basel Edition
By Lindsay Pollock and Georgina Adam, June 5 - Dealers are growing increasingly wary of do-it-yourself institutions...
From auction to fair: Roman Abramovich brings Basel to life
The Art Newspaper: Art Basel Edition
By Lindsay Pollock and Bettina Krogemann, June 4 - Chelsea FC owner joins Brad Pitt and Sheikh Saud Al-Thani at vernissage...
Dealers face first test of retail market since record auctions
The Art Newspaper: Art Basel Edition
By Lindsay Pollock and Georgina Adam, June 3 - Credit crunch, salerooms and football fans pile on the pressure...
May 2008
Piece by Piece
Art + Auction
By Lindsay Pollock, May 11 - In the mid-1980s, the New York-based collector Donna Schneier visited a London craft gallery and discovered jewelry unlike anything she had ever seen.
Record Monet Fails to Stem Dip in Christie's Impressionist Sale
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock and Philip Boroff, May 7 - Monet and Rodin failed to prevent Christie's International from missing its low estimate for an evening impressionist and modern art auction for the first time in four years...
Billionaire Bait: Monet, Bacon, Koons Headline N.Y. Auctions
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, May 3 - Hoping that the rich are different, Sotheby's and Christie's International aim to sell a record $1.8 billion worth of art over the next two weeks in New York...
April 2008
Jeweler Esmerian Fights Merrill to Stop `Reckless' N.Y. Auction
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock and Philip Boroff - Patrician fourth-generation jeweler Ralph O. Esmerian, on the hook for $200 million, is battling Merrill Lynch & Co. to stop what Christie's International calls the most important antique jewelry auction in history...
Leona Helmsley's French Commodes Fetch $421,000 at Christie's
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, April 9 - A pair of 19th century French gilt commodes owned by real-estate heiress Leona Helmsley sold for $421,000 today at Christie's International in New York...
March 2008
Spouting Absinthe, Nude Guys, Wyeth's Sinful Seagulls: Art Buzz
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, March 28 - Macedonian artist Igor Josifov will shower in the buff as part of a performance piece called "Purification Process"...
Worried Dealers, Cross-Dressing Potter Open Armory Art Fair
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, March 27 - Collector Donald B. Marron noticed a less-frenzied pace at New York's Armory Show art fair yesterday as he strolled the aisles...
New Pier Group
Art + Auction Magazine
By Lindsay Pollock, March 25 - In 2007, New York's Armory Show relocated to the hangar-like Pier 94--drawing 52,000 visitors who spent $85 million--but it lost momentum...
Dia Director's Abrupt Exit Leaves Museum Dangling for Leader
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, March 7 - Jeffrey Weiss took over as director of the Dia Art Foundation nine months ago thinking he would split his time between curatorial and administrative duties...
February 2008
American Paintings
Art + Auction Magazine
By Lindsay Pollock, Feb. 26 - Expectations were high for Christie's November 29 sale of American paintings, drawings and sculpture, projected to bring in $133 million...
January 2008
Saints, Sinners in N.Y. Sale May Fetch $100 Million: Art Buzz
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Jan. 24 - Virgins, saints and sinners jostle one another today at Sotheby's first old-master auctions of the year in New York...
Tea Tables for $2 Million; Jesse James; Mod Gagosian: Art Buzz
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Jan. 16 - Outlaw Jesse James is one of the stars of New York's 54th annual Winter Antiques Show, previewing tomorrow night...
December 2007
Rubenstein Buys Magna Carta of 1297 for $21.3 Million
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Dec. 19 - David Rubenstein, co-founder of the private-equity firm Carlyle Group, last night bought a 1297 copy of the Magna Carta...
Medal Owned by Washington, Lafayette Sells for $5.31 Million
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Dec. 11 - A gold medal owned by George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, heroes of the U.S. Revolutionary War, sold today...
High Prices, Robust Sales, Hangers-On Dominate Miami Art Fair
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Dec. 10 - Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, a yellow cashmere sweater tossed over his shoulders, paused for coffee with his wife, Hilary, on the bustling floor of the Art Basel Miami Beach fair...
No Touching, Sweetie: Page-Turners, Monks Help Miami Art Bigs
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Dec. 7 - A trio of robed Thai monks last night chanted and blessed visitors to Turchin, a jeweler in Miami's design district...
Eager VIPs Swarm Art Basel Miami, Buying With `No Hesitation'
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Dec. 6 - New York photographer Charles Thompson, dressed in a cream suit, white shoes and sipping a strawberry smoothie...
Art Basel Miami, 40,000 Shoppers Strong, Tests Limits of Market
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Dec. 5 - As the wind rustled through Miami's trademark palm trees last night and deejay Hottpants played underground '80s tunes...
November 2007
Sotheby's Sets House Record at Contemporary Sale
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Nov. 15 - Sotheby's held the biggest auction in its history last night, selling $315.9 million of contemporary art ...
Freud, Koons Set Records at Christie's N.Y.C. Auction
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Nov. 14 - Lucian Freud, Jeff Koons, Richard Prince and nine other artists broke auction records last night at Christie's...
Thiebaud Lollipops Sell for Record $4.5 Million at Christie's
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Nov. 12 - Wayne Thiebaud's crisp portrait of brightly colored lollipops, "Seven Suckers," set a record...
Christie's, Sotheby's Begin Contemporary Sales, Seek Rebound
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Nov. 12 - Christie's International and Sotheby's start their high-profile contemporary art auctions tonight...
Sotheby's Day Auction Falls Short at $61.8 Million
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Nov. 8 - Sotheby's day sale of Impressionist and modern art totaled $61.8 million today in New York, below the $65 million...
Matisse Sets Record as Christie's Auction Totals $395 Million
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Nov. 7 - Christie's International sold $395 million of Impressionist and modern artworks last night in New York...
Hedge-Fund Pet Prince Among Artists Testing November Auctions
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Nov. 1 - Movie star Hugh Grant and art trader Adam Lindemann are among the profit takers leaping into the New York auction fray this month...
October 2007:
Stolen Tamayo Found in Manhattan Trash May Sell for $1 Million
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Oct. 23 - Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo's "Tres Personajes," a 1970 painting vibrating with reds, yellows and purples...
Chaos In the Global Economy
The Art Newspaper: Frieze Art Fair Edition
By Lindsay Pollock and Georgina Adam, Oct. 15 - Report from Frieze Art Fair, London
Where Contemporary Art Leads, Design Follows
The Art Newspaper: Frieze Art Fair Edition
By Lindsay Pollock and Georgina Adam, Oct. 12 - Report from Frieze Art Fair, London
Art Less Ambitious Than Before But Still Selling
The Art Newspaper: Frieze Art Fair Edition
By Lindsay Pollock and Nadim Samman, Oct. 11 - Report from Frieze Art Fair, London
Flea Market at Gavin Brown: Treasures and Tats from Artist's Mates
The Art Newspaper: Frieze Art Fair Edition
By Lindsay Pollock and Nadim Samman, Oct. 10 - Report from Frieze Art Fair, London
Market Faces its First Real Test
The Art Newspaper: Frieze Art Fair Edition
By Lindsay Pollock, Georgina Adam and Melanie Gerlis, Oct. 10 - Report from Frieze Art Fair, London
Floating Fair, L.A. Black Art, NYT Garage Sale: Auction Roundup
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Oct. 5 - Are the Muffys and Binkys of Greenwich, Connecticut, ready for the lesbian-tinged paintings of Chinese artist Ma Yanhong...
Picasso Mistresses (Two of Them!) Woo Sotheby's New York Buyers
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Oct. 2 - A Picasso painting signifying the artist's lust for his new blond mistress, and his growing interest in sculpture, will be sold by his heirs on Nov. 7...
September 2007
Koon's 9-Foot Heart Seeks $20 Million at Sotheby's in November
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Sept. 28 - A nearly 9-foot tall, stainless-stell heart by Jeff Koons, estimated to sell for as much as $20 million...
McEnroe, Caxton's Lennox Sue Gallery Amid 'Liquidity Crisis'
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock and Philip Boroff, Sept. 27 - Housed in a 25,000-square foot palazzo off Madison Avenue, Salander-O'Reilly Galleries bills...
Steel Baron's Heir to Sell Ancient Statue for Up to $18 Million
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Sept. 14 - An Ancient limestone statue of a regal lioness, barely the height of a credit card, is expected to sell for as...
Audubon's Birds, Darwin's 'Origin' to Star in McCormick Auction
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Sept. 5 - Endangered whooping cranes can thank Brooks McCormick, a Chicago philanthropist and former chief executive officer...
Christie's Contemporary Sale Opens on a Cautious Note
Bloomberg
By Lindsay Pollock, Sept. 11 - A whiff of caution touched the season's first contemporary art auction yesterday at Christie's International in New York, even with strong...