A significant artwork by Turner Prize-winning British artist Chris Ofili is set to make its auction debut at Christie's in October, with expectations to fetch between £1 million and £1.5 million ($1.2-1.9 million). The painting, titled "Blossom" and created in 1997, showcases Ofili's distinctive artistic style featuring his controversial signature material of elephant dung, combined with glitter and resin.
The artwork holds particular historical significance as it was created just one year before Ofili made history in 1998 by becoming the first Black artist to win the prestigious Turner Prize. "Blossom" exemplifies the artist's unique approach of blending sacred religious imagery with elements of popular culture and African symbolism, creating a complex visual narrative that challenges traditional artistic boundaries.
Tessa Lord, head of postwar and contemporary art at Christie's London, expressed her enthusiasm about the upcoming sale scheduled for October 15th. "This is one of the most exciting paintings that I've worked with in a long time," Lord stated. "Ofili's works are large-scale works that are rare to auction." The painting will be featured alongside four works by renowned Scottish painter Peter Doig, which will also be making their auction debuts.
The artwork depicts a woman with an exposed breast, crowned by an orange flower positioned in her afro hairstyle, drawing upon traditional themes of motherhood and maternity. The painting's title "Blossom" appears vertically on the left side, inscribed into spheres of elephant dung. Lord described the piece's visual impact, noting, "The surface is extraordinary. It's got these almost pointillist textured dots all over the surface and resin that creates these layers that are really, in person, quite beautiful."
Ofili, born in Manchester to Nigerian parents, studied at both the Chelsea College of Arts and the Royal College of Art. His international recognition culminated in 2003 when he represented Britain at the Venice Biennale. The artist currently maintains studios and residences across London, New York, and Trinidad, reflecting his global artistic perspective.
"Blossom" has been featured in several major exhibitions, including Ofili's comprehensive mid-career retrospective at Tate Britain in 2010, which represented the most extensive display of his work to date. The painting was also included in a significant survey exhibition at the New Museum in New York during 2014-15, further cementing its importance in contemporary art history.
The 1997 creation of "Blossom" coincided with a pivotal period in Ofili's career. That same year, his solo exhibition toured prestigious venues including Southampton City Art Gallery, London's Serpentine Gallery, and Manchester's Whitworth Art Gallery. This exhibition series ultimately secured his nomination for the Turner Prize in 1998, which he subsequently won.
Ofili's Turner Prize victory was groundbreaking in multiple ways. Beyond being the first Black artist to receive the honor, he was also the first painter in over a decade to win the award, as previous winners had primarily been conceptual artists. As Lord explained, "Ofili really represents the strength of British painting in that 90s, early 2000s moment."
The painting is part of an impressive collection owned by the late Ole Faarup, a Danish design entrepreneur and philanthropist who acquired "Blossom" in 1997. Faarup assembled his collection over a 50-year period, and all proceeds from the auction will benefit the Ole Faarup Art Foundation, which supports young Danish and international artists by facilitating the placement of their works in museums worldwide.
The auction will also feature works by other notable artists, creating what Lord describes as a collection anchored by "masterpieces by two British artists." Interestingly, Ofili and Peter Doig share a personal connection dating back to their student days at Chelsea College of Arts. In the early 2000s, Doig visited Ofili in Trinidad, an experience that directly inspired Doig's work "Yara," which will also be offered in this auction.
Ofili's artistic style is often categorized as "punk art," drawing influences from artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Philip Guston. His work has consistently generated attention and controversy for its bold approach and provocative elements, particularly his frequent incorporation of elephant dung and pornographic imagery. His 1998 painting "The Holy Virgin Mary" sparked significant controversy for depicting a Black Madonna surrounded by images from blaxploitation films and pornographic magazines, ultimately selling for £2.9 million at Christie's.
This upcoming auction represents a rare opportunity for collectors, as Lord noted: "We really haven't had something like this or a work of this quality since 2015 when we sold The Holy Virgin Mary." The sale promises to attract significant international attention from both institutional and private collectors interested in acquiring a key work from one of Britain's most influential contemporary artists.
