▣ Alice Neel (앨리스 닐) - 51 Artworks - Auction Prices

Alice Neel (American, 1900-1984)

The World Record Price for Alice Neel at auction is 3,030,000 USD for "Dr. Finger’s Waiting Room", sold at Christie's New York on 13 May 2021.

Alice Neel Auction Results.
Price High to Low (Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium).

Lot Sold. USD 3,030,000 
Christie's New York, 13 May 2021
< Dr. Finger’s Waiting Room >

[ 1966, Oil on canvas, 50 x 36 in. (127 x 91.4 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 2,591,000
Christie's New York, 17 May 2023
< The De Vegh Twins >

[ 1975, Oil on canvas, 38 x 32 in. (96.5 x 81.3 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 2,310,000
Christie's New York, 11 Nov 2021
< Light >

[ 1980, Oil on canvas, 50 x 35 7/8 in. (127 x 91.1 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 2,238,000
Sotheby's New York, 13 May 2024
< Gerard Malanga >

[ 1969, oil on canvas, 60 x 40 in. 152.4 x 101.6 cm. ]

Lot Sold. USD 1,865,000
Christie's New York, 17 May 2023
< Pregnant Bette Homitzky >

[ 1968, Oil on canvas, 60 x 36 in. (152.4 x 91.4 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 1,835,000
Sotheby's New York, 19 Nov 2021
< Mady >

[ circa 1942, Oil on canvas, 61.3 x 38.1 cm. 24⅛ x 15 in. ]

① Lot Sold. USD 1,754,000
Sotheby's New York, 15 Nov 2023

② Lot Sold. USD 338,500
Christie's New York, 13 Nov 2008
< Jackie Curtis as a Boy >

[ 1972, oil on canvas, 44 x 30 in. 111.8 x 76.2 cm. ]

Lot Sold. USD 1,650,500
Sotheby's New York, 11 Nov 2009
< Jackie Curtis and Rita Red >

[ 1970, Oil on canvas, 152.4 x 106 cm. 60 x 41 3/4 in. ]

Lot Sold. GBP 1,250,000 (USD 1,601,000)
Christie's London, 07 Mar 2024
< David McKee and his First Wife Jane >

[ 1968, oil on canvas, 59 7⁄8 x 40 1⁄8 in. (152.1 x 102 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 1,593,000 
Sotheby's New York, 13 May 2021
< Henry and Sally Hope >

[ 1977, Oil on canvas, 116.8 x 127 cm. 46 x 50 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 1,197,000
Sotheby's New York, 17 Nov 2022
< Blue House >

[ 1963, Oil on canvas, 127 x 83.8 cm. 50 x 33 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 1,066,800
Sotheby's New York, 09 Mar 2023
< Abe's Grandchildren >

[ 1964, Oil on canvas, 101.9 x 76.2 cm. 40⅛ x 30 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 1,040,000 
Sotheby's New York, 29 Jun 2020
< Lilly Brody >

[ 1977, Oil on canvas, 146.4 x 76.5 cm. 57 ⅝ x 30 ⅛ in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 1,008,000
Sotheby's New York, 16 Nov 2022
< Windows >

[ 1965, Oil on canvas, 149.9 x 73.7 cm. 50 x 29 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 920,000 
Sotheby's New York, 01 Mar 2019
< Connie >

[ circa 1945, Oil on canvas, 60.6 x 83.5 cm. 23 7/8 x 32 7/8 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 782,500
Christie's New York, 12 May 2010
< David >

[ 1968, Oil on canvas, 46 x 30 in. (116.8 x 76.2 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. GBP 457,250 (USD 737,636)
Sotheby's London, 03 Nov 2010
< Susan Rossen > 

[ 1976, Oil on canvas, 111.5 x 86.5 cm. 44 x 34 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 728,000 
Sotheby's New York, 17 May 2019
< Georgie Arce No. 2 >

[ 1955, Oil on canvas, 76.2 x 55.9 cm. 30 x 22 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 723,000
Sotheby's New York, 17 May 2018
< Black Spanish-American Family >

[ 1950, Oil on Masonite, 76.2 x 55.9 cm. 30 x 22 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 698,500
Christie's New York, 06 Nov 2008
< Robert Smithson >

[ 1962, Oil on canvas, 42 x 24 in. (106.7 x 70 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 693,000
Christie's New York, 12 May 2023
< Rachel Zurer >

[ 1961-1962, oil on canvas, 39 x 26 in. (99 x 66 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 547,500
Christie's New York, 16 Nov 2016
< Philodendron >

[ 1970, Oil on canvas, 80 x 52 in. (203.2 x 132.1 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 528,200
Sotheby's New York, 19 Nov 2021
< Cows, Vermont >

[ 1971, Oil on canvas, 91.4 x 127 cm. 36 x 50 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 505,000
Christie's New York, 14 May 2008
< Vera Beckerhoff >

[ 1972, Oil on canvas, 60 x 32 in. (152.4 x 81.3 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 500,000
Christie's New York, 14 May 2021
< Untitled >

[ 1940, Oil on canvas, 24 x 15 in. (61 x 38.1 cm.) ]

① Lot Sold. USD 482,500
Christie's New York, 12 May 2011
​
② Lot Sold. USD 445,000
Christie's New York, 10 Sep 2007
< Portrait (Roberta Johnson Roensch) >

[ circa 1943-46, Oil on canvas, 30 x 22 in. (76.2 x 55.9 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 475,000 
Sotheby's New York, 15 Nov 2019
< Guy's Aunt >

[ 1965, Oil on canvas, 101.6 x 76.2 cm. 40 x 30 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 475,000
Christie's New York, 12 Nov 2021
< Snow Scene >

[ circa 1930s, Oil on canvas, 22 x 18 in. (55.9 x 45.7 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 466,000 
Sotheby's New York, 29 Sep 2015
< Diana Douglas >

[ 1965, Oil on canvas, 121.9 x 76.2 cm. 48 x 30 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 441,000
Christie's New York, 12 May 2023
< Still Life with Fruit >

[ 1940, Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 1/8 in. (61 x 77 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 437,000
Sotheby's New York, 25 Sep 2013
< Portrait of the Judge as a Young Activist >

[ 1964, Oil on canvas, 91.4 x 61 cm. 36 x 24 in. ]

Lot Sold. GBP 253,250 (USD 398,316)
Sotheby's London, 13 Oct 2011
< The Baron >

[ 1959, Oil on canvas, 86.5 x 54 cm. 34 x 21 1/4 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 389,000
Christie's New York, 14 May 2014
< Gladiolas >

[ 1974, Oil on canvas, 46 x 32 in. (116.8 x 81.2 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 386,500
Christie's New York, 12 May 2010
< Raphael Soyer >

[ 1970, Oil on canvas, 40 x 30 in. (101.6 x 76.2 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 386,500 
Sotheby's New York, 10 Nov 2010
< Portrait of David Brody >

[ 1968, Oil on canvas, 46 x 30 in. 116.9 x 76.2 cm. ]

Lot Sold. USD 375,000 
Sotheby's New York, 15 Nov 2019
< Untitled >

[ circa 1940, Oil on canvas, 79.6 x 61 cm. 31 3/8 x 24 in. ]

Lot Sold. EUR 280,000 (USD 363,552)
Villa Grisebach's Berlin, 30 Nov 2012
< Portrait of Dick Bagley >

[ 1946, Oil on canvas, 76 x 63 cm. ]

Lot Sold. USD 362,500
Christie's New York, 09 Nov 2011
< Portrait of Robert Graham >

[ 1968, Oil on canvas, 50 x 35 in. (127 x 88.9 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 362,500
Sotheby's New York, 10 May 2012
< Untitled >

[ 1974, Oil on canvas, 35 3/8 x 43 3/8 in. 97.5 x 110.2 cm. ]

Lot Sold. USD 350,000
Christie's New York, 12 Nov 2021
< Untitled >

[ circa 1940, Oil on canvas, 30 1⁄8 x 24 in. (76.5 x 62 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 317,500
Sotheby's New York, 09 Mar 2023
< Portrait of Frances >

[ circa 1943, Oil on canvas, 61 x 40.6 cm. 24 x 16 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 308,500
Phillips's New York, 14 May 2010
< Sabrina >

[ 1976, Oil on canvas, 38 x 25 in. (96.5 x 63.5 cm) ]

Lot Sold. USD 298,000
Sotheby's New York, 12 Nov 2015
< Irena Koprowska, Seated >

[ 1969, Oil on canvas, 115.6 x 76.6 cm. 45 1/2 x 29 3/4 in. ]

① Lot Sold. USD 290,500
Christie's New York, 09 May 2012
​
② Lot Sold. USD 182,500
Christie's New York, 14 May 2009
< Portrait of Fredric Mueller >

[ 1980, Oil on canvas, 46 x 32 in. (116.8 x 81.2 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. GBP 181,250 (USD 290,181)
Christie's London, 14 Oct 2010
< Mary Shoemaker >

[ 1965, Oil on canvas, 38 7/8 x 26 in. (98.8 x 66 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 281,000
Doyle's New York, 10 Nov 2015
< Untitled (Portrait of Sarah Elizabeth Hewitt, Niece of Lida Moser) >

[ 1966, Oil on canvas, 91.44 x 60.96 cm. ]

Lot Sold. USD 275,000
Christie's New York, 01 Mar 2018
< Constantine Grimaldis >

[ 1983, Oil on canvas, 36 x 44 in. (91.4 x 111.8 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 266,500
Christie's New York, 06 Nov 2008
< Ellie Poindexter >

[ 1962, Oil on canvas, 30 x 24 in. (76.2 x 61 cm.) ]

Lot Sold. USD 242,500
Christie's New York, 06 Nov 2008
< Christy White >

[ 1958, Oil on canvas, 50¼ x 24 in. (127.6 x 61 cm.) ]

① Lot Sold. USD 216,000
Sotheby's New York, 15 Nov 2006

② Lot Sold. USD 89,625
Christie's New York, 26 Sep 2002
< Portrait of Peter B. Kaplan >

[ 1950, Oil on canvas, 71 x 50.8 cm. 28 x 20 in. ]

Lot Sold. USD 209,000
Christie's New York, 24 Jul 2014
< Portrait of Vivien Leone >

[ 1983, Oil on canvas, 42 x 30 in. (106.7 x 76.2 cm.) ]

◐ Artist World Record ◑

스스로 '영혼의 수집가'라 일컬었던 인물화가 앨리스 닐(1900-1984)은 굴곡진 삶을 살다간 미국의 여성 화가다. 쿠바인 남편 사이에서 낳은 큰 딸은 전염병으로 잃고, 남편이 둘째 딸을 데리고 쿠바로 돌아가면서 혼자 남았다. 이후 신경쇠약으로 두 차례 자살을 기도했고, 정신병원에 1년간 입원했다. 뱃사람과 3년을 살았는데, 그는 동거녀가 화가인 것이 마뜩잖았던 듯 닐의 그림을 불태워버렸다. 나이트클럽 가수였던 두 번째 동거남 사이에서 맏아들을, 2년 뒤 유부남인 영화감독과 둘째 아들을 낳았다.

​닐은 미니멀리즘과 개념미술이 화단을 휩쓸었던 1960, 70년대 "추상은 인간을 외면한다. 나는 휴머니즘을 지향한다"며 주류와 거리를 뒀던 이단아이기도 했다. 

​닐은 초상화를 그리기 전 모델과 여러 번 만나 오랫동안 이야기를 나눴다. 이렇게 해서 제3자 눈엔 보이지만 당사자는 알지 못하는 세밀한 부분을 예리하게 포착했다. 그래서 모델들은 매우 불편해했고, 생전에 그녀의 그림은 거의 팔리지 않았다. 그러나 닐은 그간 인물화에서 다뤄지지 않았던 주변의 평범한 사람들을 대상으로, 그들과의 공감 자체를 소재 삼았다는 점에서 시대를 앞서간 화가였다. [ 출처: 중앙일보, 권근영의 그림 속 얼굴 ]