The market in Arman sculptures

Fernandez ARMAN, born in Nice in 1928, is the French contemporary sculptor whose works most frequently come up at auction. In 2004, when more than 400 works were put up for sale and EUR 2.8 million generated in turnover, he came 20th in Artprice’s ranking of sculptors.

In 1955, Arman Fernandez moved away from his initial Fauve and Cubist influences and began to create “Cachets”, works covered with imprints made using rubber stamps and stencils. In 1958, he adopted the name Arman, after the final letter of his original name was inadvertently omitted in a printing error. The following year, he began work on his “Accumulations”, first of all casting pieces of rubbish in Plexiglas polyhedrons, and later assembling series of identical everyday objects in show cases. The 1960s saw the production of his “Colères” and “Coupes”, works comprising objects that were in some cases broken or carefully cut into sections, and in other cases burnt. In the late 1970s, Arman began to cast works in bronze, drawing inspiration from his previous series. It is these pieces that most frequently come up at auction, often changing hands for between EUR 1,000 and EUR 10,000. Half his works currently go under the hammer for less than EUR 3,000.

Historic pieces may however fetch more than EUR 100,000. His current record was set in 1989, when “Subido al Cielo” (1961), a cut-up double bass “Coupe”, was sold for USD 330,000 by Sothebys’ New York. This work is one of only two by the artist (the other being a “Colère”) to use a double bass.

The price level for Arman sculptures fell sharply in the early 1990s, but then doubled between 1996 and 2005, and is now back virtually at the levels seen at the time his record was set. If any major pieces are brought to auction, we can expect the highest prices. Since the start of the year, three of his sculptures have sold for over EUR 100,000, i.e. as many in the past six months as in the previous 14 years.

Arman Fernandez’s market, bolstered by major exhibitions across Europe ever since the 1960s, is truly international. While 45% of his works are brought to auction in France, he also goes down well in London (a market that accounts for 11% of transactions), Italy (11%) and Scandinavia (10%).

Collectors will also find a wide choice of works advertised on the Artprice website. No less than 35 pieces are currently up for sale, many of them offered by Artprice Stores listed galleries. The most noteworthy are a 110×134 cm brush and acrylic on canvas mixed media work offered by the Galerie Ferrero (Paris) for EUR 48,000 and an imposing 1989 assemblage (instruments/tubes/acrylic), from the Galerie Beaubourg, offered for EUR 44,000 by Artcash.com SA (Lucerne). For those on a smaller budget, a very large range of lithographs is available from Art-cadre.com, Place des Arts and Ro Gallery.