What Is the Most Expensive Modern Piece of Art?

Art|Modern Art

The world of art is an ever-evolving landscape, and this is especially true for modern pieces. Many of the most expensive modern pieces of art come from some of the most famous names in the industry.

For instance, Jeff Koons’ iconic Balloon Dog (Orange) sculpture sold for a whopping $58.4 million at Christie’s in 2013, making it the most expensive work by a living artist ever sold at auction. Two years prior, another of Koons’ works, Tulips, sold for $33.7 million.

The record for the most expensive modern artwork ever sold goes to American abstract expressionist painter, Mark Rothko’s Orange, red, yellow which was bought by Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian billionaire and art collector in August 2012 for a staggering $86.9 million.

Other notable pieces include Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O) which sold for $179 million at Christie’s in May 2015; Willem de Kooning’s Interchange which was purchased by Kenneth C Griffin for $300 million in September 2015; and Alberto Giacometti’s L’homme au doigt which was auctioned off by Sotheby’s in February 2015 for $141.3 million.

The world of modern art is filled with breathtaking works that are worth millions of dollars, but it’s clear that Mark Rothko’s Orange, red, yellow remains the single most expensive modern piece of art ever sold.

In conclusion, what is the most expensive modern piece of art? The answer is Mark Rothko’s Orange, red, yellow which was purchased by Dmitry Rybolovlev in August 2012 for an astonishing $86.