Labels

Report: Lucas Outbid for "Sugar Shack"

Ernie Barnes, Sugar Shack, 1976

Artnet News cites a "rumor" that the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art was underbidder on Ernie Barnes' Sugar Shack, which sold for $15.3 million at Christies. A museum spokesperson had no comment.

The winning bidder, Houston energy trader Bill Perkins, paid over 76 times the high estimate. Barnes was the subject of a 2019 retrospective at the California African American Museum.

Email Post
Labels:

Comments

Ted Gallagher NYC said…
The winning bidder, energy trader Bill Perkins, is quoted in The Times after the sale: “I stole it — I would have paid a lot more. For certain segments of America, it’s more famous than the ‘Mona Lisa.’”
I don't know the artist. The realized price exceeded any past instance of bidding beyond the high estimate that I've ever heard of.
Good for the seller, though.
May 14, 2022 at 5:50 PM
Anonymous said…
That artist's work was used in the old 1970's sitcom "Good Times" as a stand-in piece for one of the characters playing the role of an amateur painter.

The artist was technically good but stylistically hokey.

May 15, 2022 at 12:19 PM
Unknown said…
Perhaps the Lucas Museum was the highest bidder for "Storm Dance" which sold at Christie's on May 13th.
Estimate was $100-150,000. Sold for $2,340,000.

ERNIE BARNES (1938 - 2009)
Storm Dance
signed ‘ERNIE BARNES’ (lower right)
acrylic on canvas, in artist's frame
48 3⁄4 x 24 3⁄4 in. (123.8 x 62.9 cm.)
Painted in 1977.
May 15, 2022 at 6:03 PM
Ted Gallagher NYC said…
I'd go to the Lucas if they had a jewel like this...

https://portraitcompetition.si.edu/exhibition/2022-outwin-boochever-portrait-competition/refugees-crossing-border-wall-south-texas?lang=eng
May 18, 2022 at 6:00 AM
Post a Comment