At the Christie’s auction in Paris, the four-meter painting “California” (IKB 71) by French artist Yves Klein was sold for 18.4 million euros (approximately 19.6 million dollars). This is the highest price ever paid for the artist’s works.
This artwork was created in 1961 using the artist’s unique ultramarine shade — International Klein Blue. “California” holds a special place among Klein’s works, as it is one of the rare paintings that has its own title.
The name was given in honor of the state of California, where the artist first exhibited the painting during his only trip to the United States. The painting was shown at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York City before the Los Angeles exhibition.
This gallery was one of the important art spaces of that period. After the artist’s death in 1962, the painting changed hands several times, including belonging to Swiss collector Georges Mardinger.
In 2005, “California” was purchased by the Pace Gallery in New York and temporarily loaned to the Metropolitan Museum. The painting was displayed at this museum until 2008.
According to ARTnews, the painting previously belonged to George David, the former head of United Technologies Corporation. His company financed major exhibitions dedicated to Van Gogh and Jasper Johns at the Metropolitan Museum.
