Hockney sells for $90 million at Christie's New York, sets living artist record

An iconic swimming pool picture painted by British legend David Hockney sold for $90.3 million in New York on Thursday, setting a new auction record for a living artist, Christie’s said. “Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)” was snapped up after more than nine minutes of bidding, dominated by two rival telephone bidders. The previous record was held by Jeff Koons and his “Balloon Dog (Orange),” which sold for $58.4 million at Christie’s in 2013. It was standing room only in the packed sales room at Christie’s in New York, where a smattering of applause broke out when the sale concluded, the painting hammering for $80 million. The buyer’s premium took the final price to $90,312,500, the auction house announced. Christie’s had estimated the 1972 oil painting at $80 million and called the Hockney “one of the great ma