VIDEO: Sotheby's Century City Office Opens With Private View of Spring Sales

Jessica Lilja and Melinda Goodman admire a manuscript copy on vel- lum of the Thirteenth Amendment (“The Aboli- tion of Slavery in the United States”) signed by President Lincoln and others, estimated at $2-$3 million. Images courtesy of Sotheby's. — Jessica Lilja and Melinda Goodman admire a manuscript copy on vellum of the Thirteenth Amendment (“The Abolition of Slavery in the United States”) signed by President Lincoln and others, estimated at $2-$3 million. Images courtesy of Sotheby’s.

Century City is fast becoming known as a world-class art destination. At Sotheby’s office and gallery opening Thursday, March 24, art and commerce merged at Century Plaza Towers as the famed auction house made its official debut in the area.

The occasion launched with a private viewing of highlights from Sotheby’s New York spring sales of Contemporary, Impressionist, and Modern Art.

Highlights from the viewing included Shirley Temple’s 9.54-carat fancy deep blue diamond ring, Cy Twombly’s “Blackboard” painting (expected to fetch in excess of $40 million), and a rare Francis Bacon self-portrait series on auction for the first time.

Along with a Magritte painting, two Picassos and a few Warhols, was a manuscript copy of the Thirteenth Amendment (“The Abolition of Slavery in the United States”) signed by President Lincoln and others.

Sotheby’s Andrea Fiuczynski and Bejamin Doller stand before Pablo Picasso’s “Bust de Femme” (1953).

“We are so excited to be a part of this community given the extraordinary palette of demographics – we have talent agencies, fiduciaries, advisors, influencers, and certainly a lot of clientele come here to Century City,” said Andrea Fiuczynski, executive vice president and chairman of Sotheby’s America.

Plus, Century City is ever evolving, Fiuczynski said.

“You have art dealers and galleries in Century City. You have the huge development of Westfield mall with Eataly 2017,” she added.

In the company of other artistic heavy hitters like Creative Artists Agency, the Annenberg Space for Photography, and

Timothy Morzenti and Monica Madotto stand in front of Cy Twombly’s “Untitled (New York City)” (1968), expected to fetch in excess of $40 million.

Skylight Studios, Fiuczynski feels that this is the right positioning for Sotheby’s flagship space.

“We are delighted to be a part of this community because of the extraordinary vibrancy,” she said.

Sotheby’s has been in Los Angeles for more than 35 years. The auction house moved from Beverly Hills to Century City earlier this year. Their new office space has been custom designed by Gluckman Tang Architects.

For more information about the upcoming auctions visit:

Magnificent Jewels, April 19, 2016

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2015/magnificent-jewels-n09495.html

Contemporary Art Evening Auction, May 11, 2016

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2015/contemporary-art-evening-auction-n09500.html