Oil Painting by Cuban Artist Wifredo Lam (1902-1982) Climbs to $266,700 in Shannon's May 8th Spring Fine Art Auction
The auction, held May 8th at 6pm Eastern time, featured 168 quality lots and totaled $2.1 million. The diverse sale showcased paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture from all around the world.
- (1888PressRelease) May 16, 2025 - Milford, CT - Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers hosted their annual Spring Fine Art Auction on Thursday, May 8th at 6pm Eastern time. The auction included 168 lots of quality paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture. The sale totaled $2.1 million and was 85 percent sold.
Leading the auction was a rare, early portrait by Cuban artist Wifredo Lam. It sold for $266,700 (including buyer’s premium). The portrait was well-documented in the catalogue raisonné and other publications and had been in a private collection for nearly 50 years.
Dated 1939, Personnage No. 2 was painted the same year the artist met Pablo Picasso. Picasso referred to Lam as a “lost cousin” and the two artists inspired each other. There was international attention on this lot and several telephone bidders. It ultimately sold online to a prominent private collector of Latin American art.
The diverse auction included artworks from all around the world. The second-leading lot in the sale was by the Indian Surrealist Master, Bikash Bhattacharjee. Collectors in both India and New York competed for this painting that ultimately sold for $100,000.
An international audience followed the sale driving strong prices for Luciano Ventrone (Italian, 1942-2021), Natura Morta, sold for $37,500; Le Pho (Vietnamese, 1907-2002), Floral Still Life, 18 inches by 21 inches, sold for $47,375; Maximilien Luce (French, 1858-1941), Rolleboise, Bord de Riviere, sold for $28,625; and Edward Seago (British, 1910-1974), Harbour Cafes: Ostend, sold for $18,000.
Over 600 viewers live-streamed the auction, while in-house Shannon’s contacted registered bidders with a bank of 20 telephone bidders and executed absentee and live online bids. As a result of their extensive targeted marketing strategy, Shannon’s attracted interest from 13 different countries and 43 states.
On a national level, Shannon’s again excelled with quality offerings of American Art. The top lot in this category was a charming portrait of a young girl, Patience, by Ashcan artist, Robert Henri. The 24 inch by 20 inch oil on canvas sold for $88,900. A collection of four works by Jane Peterson was also a highlight. The top lot from the group was an exceptional Venice scene in original condition; it sold for $56,250. All four paintings were sold to private collections.
Contemporary American painting was led by an Abstract Expressionist work by Mary Heilmann. The 29 inch by 22-inch, acrylic on paper from 1976 sold for $56,250.
Owner, Sandra Germain, noted, “We were very encouraged by the sale results and are looking forward to another successful auction in the fall. Collectors continue to seek fresh-to-the-market, unique artworks and we work hard to bring quality offerings to our buyers at Shannon’s.”
Shannon’s will host their fall auction on Thursday, October 30th, and they invite quality consignments year-round. For more information and the full results of the May 8th auction, visit shannons.com or follow them on social media.
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