Sam Gilliam's Auction Record Jumps 11%
3 min read · 16 May 2025
Ray II. Image courtesy of Sotheby's
Sam Gilliam, Ray II (1970) sold for $2.43m, more than twice the low estimate at Sotheby's in New York on May 16. The acrylic on beveled edge canvas work has been traded 4 times in the past.
The sale beat the artist’s previous auction record by $256,500, a 11% rise.
Lady Day II. Image courtesy of Christie's
The previous record was set by Lady Day II (1971), which sold for $2.17m at Christie's on November 15, 2018. The work had been traded 3 times in the past.
Sale Date | Title | Price | Record Increase | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025-05-16 | Ray II | $2.43m | 12 % | Sotheby's | New York |
2018-11-15 | Lady Day II | $2.17m | 80 % | Christie's | New York |
2018-06-26 | Forth | $1.21m | 37 % | Sotheby's | London |
2018-03-02 | Untitled | $885,000 | 29 % | Sotheby's | New York |
2017-09-27 | Rays | $684,500 | 116 % | Sotheby's | New York |
2015-11-11 | Empty | $317,000 | 61 % | Christie's | New York |
2015-04-02 | Untitled | $197,000 | 174 % | Swann Galleries | New York |
2013-02-14 | Butterfly, Feeling | $72,000 | 31 % | Swann Galleries | New York |
2010-09-22 | Carrousel | $55,000 | 35 % | Christie's | New York |
2010-07-07 | S | $40,700 | 40 % | Christie's | Paris |
2008-02-08 | Left is right | $29,000 | - | Sloans & Kenyon | Chevy Chase |
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