One of the important “in” Manhattan events of the spring for collectors, gallerists, dealers, advisors and hanger-ons of the art world are the Contemporary Art sales at Sotheby’s and Christie’s.  And while I cannot comment on the pieces my clients are checking out in detail, in this and the following posts I will comment on a few of my favorite works of art.

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and so I’m probably revealing TOO much of myself in my hungry lust for this delicious rendition of pies by American pop-artist Wayne Thiebaud who is known for his works of cakes, pastries, toys and lipsticks.

At first glance, each piece of pie seems to be cut from the same mold, subconsciously giving the viewer a hint of mass production – a common thread running through Pop-Art.  But on closer inspection, one realizes this is not true at all. Each piece of pie is different and unique and therefore closer resembles the work of the Abstract Expressionists.  All this is good art education, but the very BEST thing about this piece is the handling of the paint.  It does not look like Thiebaud is working with oils at all, but with fluffy air-whipped meringue, thick lathery icing or syrupy cherry filling deliciously oozing out of each piece.

Sotheby’sNew York (sale: 9 May 2011)

Property from the Allan Stone Collection

Lot 30

Wayne Thiebaud (b. 1920)

signed and dated 1961

oil on canvas

22 x 28 in. (55.9 x 71.1 cm)

Estimate: US$2,500,000 – 3,500,000 (sold | US$4,000,000)