Vija Celmins
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personAmerican, b. 1938
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Selected Works385

Museum Acquisitions

35 Institutions
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
Whitney
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA
MoMA

Previous Sales 29

Christie's
Ocean
Ocean, 1972
$1,524,000
May 2026
Christie's
Web #10
Web #10, 2006
$3,075,000
May 2024
Christie's
School Slate
School Slate, 2009
£220,500 ($291k USD)
Mar 2024
Christie's
Untitled (Divided Rectangle)
Untitled (Divided Rectangle), 1986
$2,228,000
May 2023
Sotheby's
Pink Pearl Eraser
Pink Pearl Eraser, 1966
Unknown
Sep 2022
Christie's
Untitled (Moon Surface #1)
Untitled (Moon Surface #1), 1969
$756,000
Sep 2022
Christie's
Untitled (Mars)
Untitled (Mars)
$1,260,000
May 2022
Christie's
Untitled (Moon Image)
Untitled (Moon Image)
$1,440,000
May 2022
Christie's
Untitled (Ocean)
Untitled (Ocean)
$3,030,000
Oct 2020
Christie's
Long Ocean #5
Long Ocean #5, 1972
$1,815,000
Nov 2019
Christie's
Untitled (Night Sky #7)
Untitled (Night Sky #7), 1995
$3,015,000
Nov 2019
Christie's
Untitled Porfolio
Untitled Porfolio
$100,000
Nov 2018
Christie's
Starfield
Starfield
$93,750
Nov 2018
Christie's
Star Field I
Star Field I
$2,412,500
Nov 2018
Christie's
Hubble #3
Hubble #3, 1998
£608,750 ($804k USD)
Mar 2018
Christie's
Lead Sea #2
Lead Sea #2
$4,212,500
Nov 2017
Christie's
Strata
Strata
$50,000
Sep 2017
Christie's
Blackboard Tableau #8 (Edward)
Blackboard Tableau #8 (Edward)
$989,000
May 2015
Christie's
Galaxy (Hydra)
Galaxy (Hydra)
$869,000
Nov 2014
Christie's
Untitled (Ocean)
Untitled (Ocean)
$1,685,000
Nov 2013
Christie's
Night Sky #14
Night Sky #14, 1996
$2,405,000
Nov 2013
Christie's
Untitled #8
Untitled #8
$1,142,500
May 2012
Christie's
Sea Drawing with Whale
Sea Drawing with Whale
$902,500
Nov 2011
Christie's
Untitled
Untitled
$206,500
Nov 2010
Los Angeles Modern Auctions
Untitled (Ocean)
Untitled (Ocean)
$83,750
Sep 2022

For Sale 1

Gemini G.E.L. · Artsy
Night Sky 2 (Reversed)
Night Sky 2 (Reversed), 2002
Price on request
3 color photogravure/aquatint/photo etching/ drypoint
price_check

Market520 auction results

trending_upPaintings Range
$175K – $3.1M
5 of 6 paintings lots with prices
calculatePaintings Average
$1.5M
Object-type specific
show_chartPaintings Median
$1.4M
5 priced paintings lots
calendar_todayLast Paintings Sale
May 2024 · $3.1M
Latest tracked sale in this object type
categoryMarket by Object Type
Paintings: $1.4M medianWorks on paper: $1.5M medianSculpture/objects: $291K medianEditioned prints: $8.8K medianBooks/portfolios: $12.5K medianPosters/ephemera: $7.9K medianEditioned objects: $4.5K medianUnclassified lots: — median
gavelTop Auction Houses
Christie'sLos Angeles Modern AuctionsSotheby'sSwann Auction GalleriesRago Arts and Auction Center
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Galleries3

#33 Joni Moisant Weyl
#56 Matthew Marks Gallery
Instagram
#428 Van Doren Waxter
Instagram
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Prizes & Awards3

Praemium Imperiale
Winner 2023
American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medals
Winner 2016
MacArthur Fellowship
Winner 1997
podcasts

Podcast Interviews1

podcasts No. 105: Vija Celmins The Modern Art Notes Podcast · Nov 18, 2014
Episode No. 105 of The Modern Art Notes Podcast features artist Vija Celmins. Celmins’ work is prominently featured in “Damage Control: Art and Destruction Since 1950” at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The ex…
public

Biennial Selections1

documenta — Kassel
2017 · documenta 14 · curated by Adam Szymczyk
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Publications6

Exhibition Catalog 3

Vija Celmins
Hatje Cantz · 2025
Vija Celmins
Yale University Press · 2018
Vija Celmins Author
Yale University Press · 2015

Group Catalog 1

Birth of the Cool: American Painting from Georgia O'Keeffe to Christopher Wool
Hatje Cantz · 1997

Survey 2

Birth of the Cool: Amerikanische Malerei von Georgia O'Keeffe bis Christopher Wool
Hatje Cantz · 1997
The American Art Book
Phaidon Press
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Current Exhibitions0

No current exhibitions found.

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Recent News20

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painting | Drawings & Notes
This editorial compilation highlights a series of exhibitions and artist profiles focusing on the intimate relationship between drawing, painting, and…
exhibitionsJun 2, 2026
Bruno Birmanis and Mareunrol’s on Representing Latvia at the 61st Venice Biennale
Bruno Birmanis and the artist duo Mareunrol’s (Mārite Mastiņa-Pēterkopa and Rolands Pēterkops) will represent Latvia at the 61st Venice Biennale in 20…
exhibitionsMay 19, 2026
Ascendant Philanthropists Make $23 Million Donation to Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has received a $23 million donation from newly elected trustee Jennifer Rubio and her husband Stewart Butterfield, made…
policyMay 4, 2026
A $35 M. Warhol, a $45 M. Basquiat, and More: Who’s Selling The Top Works in the May Sales?
The article reports on the upcoming May marquee sales at Christie’s and Sotheby’s, detailing high-value consignments from major collections. Christie’…
marketMay 3, 2026
New York Galleries: Openings and Closings (04/27-05/03)
newsApr 27, 2026
The Women Defining Printmaking at the 2026 IFPDA Print Fair
The 2026 IFPDA Print Fair opened at New York’s Park Avenue Armory, placing a significant spotlight on the contributions of women artists to the medium…
exhibitionsApr 10, 2026
10 Art Shows to See in Los Angeles This April
April in Los Angeles features a diverse array of art exhibitions, from major institutional retrospectives to politically charged group shows. Highligh…
exhibitionsApr 2, 2026
CARTIER FOUNDATION. A THIN LINE BETWEEN EXTRACTIVISM AND CULTURAL RECLAMATION
The Cartier Foundation inaugurated its new Paris headquarters on October 25 with the exhibition "Exposition Générale." The curatorial approach and, mo…
exhibitionsMar 29, 2026
Glassblower and porcelain heir Paul Arnhold on the art he loves to collect
The article profiles Paul Arnhold, a New York-based glassblower and fourth-generation heir to a major Meissen porcelain collection. He discusses how h…
peopleMar 12, 2026
The best exhibitions of 2025, as chosen by curators and museum directors
Curators and museum directors from leading institutions worldwide selected their favorite exhibitions of 2025, highlighting a diverse range of shows. …
exhibitionsDec 15, 2025
most expensive female artists
Artnet News has published a list of the ten most expensive female artists at auction, based on data from the Artnet Price Database. The article highli…
marketDec 9, 2025
Fall 2025 Festival Season
Art21 successfully concluded its Fall 2025 festival season, with its films being screened at multiple international festivals including Artecinema in …
cultureNov 19, 2025
What to expect from Fondation Cartier's new Parisian home
Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain will open its highly anticipated new Paris gallery at Place du Palais-Royal, opposite the Louvre, on 25 Octo…
exhibitionsOct 13, 2025
With Ruth Asawa, MoMA is set to open its biggest show ever by a woman artist
MoMA is opening "Ruth Asawa: Retrospective" on October 19, 2025, running through February 7, 2026, featuring 275 works by the artist, including over 6…
exhibitionsOct 13, 2025
UC Irvine finalizes acquisition of Orange County Museum of Art
The University of California, Irvine has finalized its acquisition of the Orange County Museum of Art, creating a new unified institution named the UC…
newsSep 29, 2025
Philly museum showcases innovations in fine art screenprinting by NYC’s Brand X
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has become the official repository for the archive of Brand X Editions, a New York City-based print studio founded in 1…
exhibitionsSep 15, 2025
Highlights from New York’s Upstate Art Weekend 2025
Upstate Art Weekend (UAW) returns for its sixth edition, running until July 21, 2025, with over 155 participants across galleries, studios, museums, a…
exhibitionsJul 17, 2025
vija celmins retrospective beyeler basel foundation switzerland
The Fondation Beyeler in Basel, Switzerland, is hosting a retrospective of Vija Celmins featuring roughly 90 works. The exhibition traces Celmins's ca…
exhibitionsJul 15, 2025
One Fine Show: “Alex Da Corte, The Whale” at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth has opened “Alex Da Corte, The Whale,” a solo exhibition dedicated to the painting practice of artist Alex Da Cort…
exhibitionsJun 19, 2025
Art Basel 2025
Art Basel 2025 opened with strong preview-day sales, surprising many galleries after a tough year in the art market. Dealers reported a 'buyer's marke…
exhibitionsJun 16, 2025
history

Past Exhibitions14

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#56 Matthew Marks Gallery

Winter

VIJA CELMINS

523 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011, United States

Feb 16, 2024 — Apr 6, 2024

Details

Glenstone Museum

Vija Celmins

Vija Celmins

Nov 18, 2021 — Jun 19, 2022

Vija Celmins Nov 18, 2021 - Jun 19, 2022 The Gallery

Details

#2,972 Atlantean Art Gallery

Vija Celmins: To Fix the Image in Memory

Vija Celmins

317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G4, Canada

May 4, 2019 — Aug 2, 2019

Details

Art Gallery of Ontario

Vija Celmins: To Fix the Image in Memory

Vija Celmins

317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G4, Canada

Jan 1, 2019

Vija Celmins: To Fix the Image in Memory May 4 – August 5, 2019 Learn More

Details

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Vija Celmins

Vija Celmins

151 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA

Dec 15, 2018 — Mar 31, 2019

Floor 4 Vija Celmins To Fix the Image in Memory Dec 15, 2018–Mar 31, 2019

Details

#33 Joni Moisant Weyl

Vija Celmins: Selected Prints

Vija Celmins

535 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011, United States

Feb 12, 2015 — Mar 28, 2015

Details

Byzantine Fresco Chapel

Vija Celmins: Television and Disaster, 1964–1966

Vija Celmins

4011 Yupon St, Houston, TX 77006, USA

Nov 19, 2010 — Feb 20, 2011

Nov 19, 2010 – Feb 20, 2011 Vija Celmins: Television and Disaster, 1964–1966

Details

Menil Collection

Vija Celmins: Television and Disaster, 1964–1966

Vija Celmins

1533 Sul Ross St, Houston, TX 77006, USA

Nov 19, 2010 — Feb 20, 2011

Nov 19, 2010 – Feb 20, 2011 Vija Celmins: Television and Disaster, 1964–1966

Details

#89 Cirrus Gallery

Vija Celmins Oceans, Deserts, Galaxies

Vija Celmins

2011 South Santa Fe Avenue

Dec 15, 2007 — Feb 9, 2008

Details

#89 Cirrus Gallery

Vija Celmins Prints

Vija Celmins

2011 South Santa Fe Avenue

Sep 23, 2000 — Dec 22, 2000

Details

#89 Cirrus Gallery

Prints 1970–1992

Vija Celmins

2011 South Santa Fe Avenue

Jan 15, 1994 — Mar 12, 1994

Details

#89 Cirrus Gallery

Vija Celmins New Lithographs

Vija Celmins

2011 South Santa Fe Avenue

Oct 4, 1975 — Oct 31, 1975

Details

Saint Louis Art Museum

Vija Celmins: "Intense Realism"

Vija Celmins

1 Fine Arts Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA

May 10, 2015

Vija Celmins — December 12 – May 10, 2015

Details

Glenstone Museum

Ties of our common kindred

Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Ruth Asawa, Kerry James Marshall, Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol, John Baldessari, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Alexander Calder, Vija Celmins, Barbara Chase-Riboud, Thomas Demand

On View

Details
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Art Fair Appearances12

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Art Basel — Basel
2025
Art Basel Miami Beach — Miami Beach
2023
Art Basel — Basel
2022
The Armory Show — New York
2020
Art Basel — Basel
2019
Art Basel Miami Beach — Miami Beach
2019
The Armory Show — New York
2019
Art Basel — Basel
2018
Art Basel Miami Beach — Miami Beach
2018
artgenève — Geneva
2017
The Armory Show — New York
2015
Art Basel Miami Beach — Miami Beach
2014
timeline

Recent Activity20

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Exhibition
Vija Celmins: "Intense Realism"
event
prize_award
Praemium Imperiale
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
VIJA CELMINS Prints 1983 to 1985
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
Ties of our common kindred
newspaper
News
Bruno Birmanis and Mareunrol’s on Representing Latvia at the 61st Venice Biennale
May 19, 2026
newspaper
News
Ascendant Philanthropists Make $23 Million Donation to Met
May 4, 2026
newspaper
News
A $35 M. Warhol, a $45 M. Basquiat, and More: Who’s Selling The Top Works in the May Sales?
May 3, 2026
newspaper
News
New York Galleries: Openings and Closings (04/27-05/03)
Apr 27, 2026
newspaper
News
The Women Defining Printmaking at the 2026 IFPDA Print Fair
Apr 10, 2026
newspaper
News
10 Art Shows to See in Los Angeles This April
Apr 2, 2026
newspaper
News
FUNDACIÓN CARTIER. UNA DELGADA LÍNEA ENTRE EXTRACTIVISMO Y REIVINDICACIÓN CULTURAL
Mar 29, 2026
newspaper
News
Glassblower and porcelain heir Paul Arnhold on the art he loves to collect
Mar 12, 2026
newspaper
News
The best exhibitions of 2025, as chosen by curators and museum directors
Dec 15, 2025
gallery_thumbnail
Exhibition
On the Edge: Los Angeles Art from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection
Dec 13, 2025
newspaper
News
most expensive female artists
Dec 9, 2025
newspaper
News
Fall 2025 Festival Season
Nov 19, 2025
newspaper
News
With Ruth Asawa, MoMA is set to open its biggest show ever by a woman artist
Oct 13, 2025
newspaper
News
What to expect from Fondation Cartier's new Parisian home
Oct 13, 2025
newspaper
News
UC Irvine finalizes acquisition of Orange County Museum of Art
Sep 29, 2025
newspaper
News
Philly museum showcases innovations in fine art screenprinting by NYC’s Brand X
Sep 15, 2025
newspaper

Related News5

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