Benefit Sale

Christie’s achieves more than $1 million in sales during Ansel Adams auction to benefit Center for Creative Photography

On December 10, Christie’s offered bidders some of the most iconic photographs ever taken by one of the most famous photographers to ever live, Ansel Adams. Eighty-six lots were offered and 86 lots sold, realizing a total of nearly $1.1 million.Ansel Adams (1902-1984), Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941, gelatin silver print, 15½ x 195/16” Estimate: $30/50,000 SOLD: $75,000

The New York City sale benefited the endowment for the Center for Creative Photography, which was co-founded by Adams in 1975 at the University of Arizona in Tucson. The center began with the archives of five living master photographers: Adams, Wynn Bullock, Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind and Frederick Sommer, but the collection has since grown to include 270 archival collections. Among these are some of the most recognizable names in 20th century North American photography: Lola Álvarez Bravo, W. Eugene Smith, Edward Weston and Garry Winogrand. Altogether there are more than 8 million archival objects in the center’s collection including negatives, work prints, contact sheets, albums, scrapbooks, correspondence, writings, audiovisual materials and memorabilia.Ansel Adams (1902-1984), Clearing Winter Storm, Yosemite Valley, ca. 1940, gelatin silver print, 15½ x 191/8” Estimate: $30/50,000 SOLD: $60,000

Top lots in the sale included one of Adams’ most well-known photographs, Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941 (est. $30/50,000), that sold for $75,000 and Clearing Winter Storm, Yosemite Valley (est. $30/50,000) that sold for $60,000.Ansel Adams (1902-1984), Georgia O’Keeffe and Orville Cox, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona, 1937, gelatin silver print, 10 x 13¼” Estimate: $12/18,000 SOLD: $23,750

“We are extremely pleased with this afternoon’s results of 100 percent sold by lot and value. The strength of the Ansel Adams market is evident through strong results for iconic images, high bidder turnout and very active internet bidding,” says Darius Himes, international head of photography at Christie’s. “To be able to contribute to the overall mission of the Center for Creative Photography, and specifically through the use of these proceeds to create an acquisition fund, is a deep and lasting honor.”—