Zappo #2 1988 [W/P]



Synthetic polymer paint on 2 sheets of paper, 172 x 120.5

Signed, dated and titled [l.r.: ‘Howard Arkley 88’; also on reverse: ‘Howard Arkley / Zappo #2 / 1988’: according to Christie’s 4/01]

Coll.: unknown

This work, though it appears to lack a documented history prior to Arkley’s death, is obviously related to various versions of this composition developed in the early 1980s: see e.g. Untitled [Zappo study #1] (1982) [W/P].

For other late 1980s examples, see Untitled [Zappo] (1988?) [W/P] and Zappo; and source material (1988 and earlier) [W/P]. The present example may be an abandoned precursor of one of those works (it seems to have an unfinished look).

Provenance

  • P/C Melb., ‘purchased directly from the artist 1988’ (acc.to Joel’s 10/06)
  • Auctioned by Christie’s, Melb., 3 April 2001, lot 65 (ill. and dets. as above, but size given as 171.2 x 122; no provenance given; est.$15-20,000; not sold)
  • Auctioned by Joel’s, Melb., 16 Oct. 2006, lot 26: as ‘Zappo 2’, 172 x 120.5 (ill. and dets. as above, inc. provenance; est.$25,000; not sold)
  • Auctioned by Deutscher & Hackett, Melb., 29 April 2009, lot 110 (ill., same details as Joel’s 10/06; est.$20-30,000; sold for $21,600)
  • Auctioned again by Deutscher & Hackett, Melb., 30 Nov.2011, lot 41 (ill., dets. as above; est.$20-30,000; sold for $15,000 [$18,000 inc.buyer’s premium])
  • Auctioned by Leonard Joel, Melb., 22 March 2016, lot 114 (ill., details as above; est.$20-30,000; sold for $26,400 [$22,000 plus buyer’s premium])