Serge Poliakoff Value: Top Prices Paid at Auction

Composition Abstraite (1959) established Poliakoff's current auction record when it sold at Galerie Kornfeld Auktionen AG in September 2021, significantly exceeding its high estimate. This large-scale oil painting, with sand integrated into the paintwork to add texture, exemplifies the artist at the height of his creative powers in his most productive period. Poliakoff’s technique, to create his colourful works, involved applying countless layers of hand-mixed translucent paint, which created a unique sense of depth and luminosity that distinguished him from other abstract artists of the time. This piece was created when Poliakoff was firmly established as an international artist, and benefits from his exposure to Egyptian art at the British Museum, where he studied layered pigments - an influence that would inform his approach to his materials throughout his career.

This abstract composition from 1967 achieved more than double its high estimate at Uppsala Auktionskammare, Sweden, in November 2022. The work's relatively small size (100 x 81 cm) stands in contrast to many of his other higher-valued canvases, suggesting that exceptional examples of Poliakoff's work maintain strong market appeal regardless of scale. Like many works from his mature period, this composition reflects Poliakoff's mathematical sensibility and interest in what he referred to as the Golden Section. The painting demonstrates the artist's assertion that "the contours are always slightly bent, so that the interlocked forms are subject to an imperceptive vibration," creating a dynamic visual rhythm that became his hallmark. The work was exhibited extensively between 1968 and 1979, including at the Galerie des Arts, Helsinki, in 1972, before being kept exclusively in a private collection until its most recent sale in 1980.

Achieving this significant result at Ferri & Associés SARL, Paris, in June 2011, Composition Abstraite (1954) represents a pivotal period in Poliakoff's career. The 1954 date places this work in the aftermath of his encounter with Kasimir Malevich's paintings, which significantly influenced his approach to colour and form. It coincides with Poliakoff's transition from being a part-time painter supporting himself through music to becoming fully independent as an artist. The sophisticated balance of forms and tones in this composition showcases the artistic maturity that would soon lead to his international recognition, culminating in a dedicated pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 1962.

The aptly titled Rouge Bleu Jaune (1954) sold at Christie's Shanghai in September 2018, achieving nearly three times its high estimate of CNY 2.4 million. The title explicitly references Poliakoff's primary triad of colours that formed the foundation of many of his colour-focused works: red, blue, and yellow. At the time this work was created, Poliakoff was transitioning from earlier muted earth tones toward more vibrant contrasts, influenced by Robert Delaunay's theories on colour simultaneity - which Poliakoff absorbed during his formative years in Paris. The strong performance of this work at auction reflects collectors' particular appreciation for Poliakoff's bold chromatic explorations of his middle period. The work belonged to the family collection of Dr. Franz Meyer and was only exhibited once, at the Hamburg Kunstverein, in 1958, ensuring its appearance at auction in 2018 stirred up considerable collector interest.

Orange Gris Et Noir (1964) achieved this top 10 result at Sotheby's Paris in December 2018. It reflects Poliakoff's evolution toward more carefully calibrated colour relationships during the 1960s. The strong contrasts between orange, grey, and black create a compelling juxtaposition and imagined depth that is typical of Poliakoff's mature work. It was created two years after his recognition at the Venice Biennale in 1962, therefore capturing Poliakoff at the height of his international acclaim and artistic confidence. Its deliberate title, specifying its three dominant colours, emphasises Poliakoff's systematic approach to composition, while the subtle interplay of these carefully chosen colours creates a sense of movement, rhythm, and overlap. The piece remained within the estate of the artist until it was sold to a London collector. The 2018 auction was, therefore, the first time the work became publicly available.

This 1952 work sold at Artcurial, Paris, in October 2011, confirming the strong market for Poliakoff's early mature period. Its creation coincides with the transition point in Poliakoff’s career when he became independent, securing his first gallery contract with Galerie Bing. His work reflects both the influence of his mentors Kandinsky and Delaunay and his growing confidence in his own artistic voice. The substantial price achieved by this work demonstrates collectors' recognition of the historical importance of these transitional works in Poliakoff's artistic evolution, but also its distinct provenance - in 2011, the work sold out of the Jean Pollak collection.

A late-period work, Composition Abstraite (1967) sold at Sotheby's Paris in October 2023, making it the most recent top 10 auction result on this list. Created just two years before his death in 1969, this painting represents Poliakoff's continued exploration of colour relationships and geometric abstraction in his final creative phase. It also followed his being awarded the Grand Prize at the Menton Bienniale in 1966. The continued high prices for these late works confirm that collectors value his entire creative arc rather than just his breakthrough period. Despite health challenges during this time, including a heart attack in 1965 that led to a focus on smaller formats and lithographs, this large-scale canvas demonstrates Poliakoff's undiminished vision and technical mastery.

The earliest sale on this list, and the only one to take place in London, this 1954 composition exceeded its high estimate at Sotheby's London in April 1990. At the same sale, another untitled composition from 1953 also sold for £506,000, though not quite making it into Poliakoff’s top 10 results. The work’s minimal display history, remaining in private collections since its creation, means that little is known about the work itself. However, given its date, it was likely originally sold by Galerie Bing in Paris.

Composition Abstraite (1969) sold at Blanchet & Associés, Paris, in November 2012 for almost double its high estimate. This work has particular historical significance as it was completed in the final year of Poliakoff's life, and thus represents the culmination of his artistic journey. It demonstrates both Poliakoff’s refined colour sensibility and the meditative quality of his methodical practice. It embodies the spiritual dimension that pervaded his career and approach to abstraction. Its creation in 1969 followed his 1968 retrospective at the Caen Théatre et Maison de la Culture, which would be his last exhibition during his lifetime.

The final installment on this top 10 list is Composition Abstraite (1951), which achieved this result at Sotheby's Paris in June 2018. As one of Poliakoff’s early works, it comes from the time when he was transitioning from part-time to full-time artist. He was emerging from the shadows of his many mentors, including Kandinsky and Otto Freundlich. The year 1951 represents the beginning of what would become Poliakoff's most critically acclaimed period, when his innovative approach to colour and form was beginning to gain international recognition. This particular work had remained in a private collection since 1975, appearing only twice in exhibitions in Paris prior to this.