There was an uptick in sales of traditional art at last month’s Tefaf Maastricht fair
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BY ALBERT CHEN
Bridget Riley, one of Britain’s most revered living artists, once again proved her enduring power in the art market as her 1985 painting Myrrh achieved a sensational £1,802,900 ($2,362,000) at Bonhams‘ 20th/21st Century Art Evening Sale last night in London. The vibrant canvas, a standout from Riley’s celebrated Egypt series, topped the high-profile sale at Bonhams’ New Bond Street showroom, confirming her continued influence in the global art scene at the age of 93.
Riley, best known for pioneering the Op Art movement of the 1960s, drew inspiration for Myrrh from a pivotal 1981 trip to Egypt. Captivated by the radiant hieroglyphics and sun-drenched landscapes, she developed what she called her “Egyptian Palette”—a breakthrough in her use of colour. The result was a series of works that shimmer with optical precision and emotional resonance.
“The distinctive palette of Bridget Riley’s Egypt series paintings make them amongst her most highly sought-after works,” said Ralph Taylor, Global Head of 20th and 21st Century Art at Bonhams. “It’s no surprise that collectors wanted to own this exceptional piece by one of the greatest living artists.”
Riley’s achievement is all the more remarkable given her career’s sheer longevity and consistency. From her early black-and-white optical experiments to the bold chromatic harmonies of her later works, she has remained a trailblazer in the field of abstraction. Her paintings, which appear to pulse, shimmer or even move, continue to challenge the boundaries of perception and form.
Today, Riley’s works are housed in major institutions around the world, including Tate, London; the Nationalgalerie, Berlin; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; and the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam. Last night’s record sale is yet another milestone in a career defined by innovation, resilience, and an unrelenting pursuit of visual truth. At nearly a century old, Bridget Riley remains not only a living legend but a market force to be reckoned with.
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