John Moran Auctioneers is holding a Modern and Contemporary Fine Art sale at its Monrovia headquarters, featuring standout works by Deborah Butterfield and Joel Shapiro, alongside pieces by Alice Baber, Sandro Chia, Jonas Wood, Banksy, and Takashi Murakami. Highlights include two horse sculptures by Butterfield—Untitled (Foal) (2015) and Untitled (Large Horse) (2013)—and Joel Shapiro's Untitled (1996), all from the Estate of Herbert and Anne Lucas. The sale also includes works from other notable 20th- and 21st-century artists, positioning it as a key end-of-year auction event.
The sale matters because it brings together a curated selection of modern and contemporary art that spans movements from Abstract Expressionism to Postminimalism and Neo-Expressionism, reflecting both established and resurgent market interest. The inclusion of works from the Lucas estate, lifelong collectors of British and American art, adds provenance depth, while the presence of artists like Alice Baber—experiencing renewed attention—signals shifting collector tastes. This auction offers a snapshot of current market dynamics in the secondary market for mid-century and contemporary works.