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Thierry Noir Value: Top Prices Paid at Auction

Sheena Carrington
written by Sheena Carrington,
Last updated27 Nov 2023
A photograph of Thierry Noir facing the camera and standing in an art gallery surrounded by four large-scale caricature portrait canvases. The canvases are created in vibrant hues and lined up against the walls of the gallery.Image © Noir Projects
Leah Mentzis

Leah Mentzis, Partnerships Manager[email protected]

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Thierry Noir

Thierry Noir

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Thierry Noir's artistic trajectory has been marked by a significant presence in the art market. His unique style, characterised by bold lines, vibrant colours, and abstracted figures, has garnered attention and acclaim. With notable works such as A Certain Degree of Mystery Surrounds the Way I Do My Hair (2020) and Flower To The People Of London (2014), Noir has solidified his position as a respected contemporary artist. His artworks have achieved impressive prices at renowned auction houses like Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips, with sales reaching up to £100,800. Noir’s highest-selling works are often achieved through online sales. However, there has been an increasing presence of his works within live auctions, and we expect to see the appearance of others.

Below are his top ten highest valued artworks.

£107,950 for Brompton Road at 6pm

(£107,950)

Abstract caricature faces in bold black lines arranged in a Tetris-like puzzle against a vibrant cerulean blue backdrop. The faces feature exaggerated lips in red, blue and white hair, and some with protruding teeth.Image © Sotheby's / Brompton Road at 6pm © Thierry Noir 1958

Brompton Road at 6pm (2014) is a large-scale oil painting on canvas featuring caricatured side-profile faces rendered in bold black sinuous lines against a vibrant blue backdrop, lending itself to multiple interpretations of its title. Noir, known for his iconic face motifs on the Berlin Wall, initially placed these symbols in a political and historical context, juxtaposed with lively and playful colours. This artwork garnered significant acclaim, achieving £107,950 (including fees) at Sotheby's online Contemporary Curated sale in April 2023, setting a new auction record for Noir and solidifying his position in the contemporary art world.

£101,600 for My perceptive vision crosses the darkness and stares at the ferryboats that take to the sea

( £101,600)

An abstract canvas with shades of grey, vibrant red, and green. A bold black-lined caricature in a side profile is drawn over the colors. The green forms the eye, red creates exaggerated lips, and a lighter grey hue resembles a hat. The artwork is signed "NOIR" in the bottom left corner.Image © Sotheby's / My perceptive vision crosses the darkness and stares at the ferryboats that take to the sea © Thierry Noir 2020


My Perceptive Vision Crosses the Darkness and Stares at the Ferryboats That Take to the Sea
(2020) is a large-scale canvas that also showcases Noir's ability to craft captivating pieces using a minimal colour palette. The composition primarily features striking red lips, shades of grey, and an electrifying chartreuse eye. This artwork embodies Noir's playful artistic language, hinted at by the title and symbolic references, suggesting a sailor-like figure with a connection to the sea's depth and mystery. Beyond its contemporary aesthetics, the artwork carries narrative and symbolism that enrich its minimalist portrayal. Presented in Sotheby's Contemporary Curated online sale in April 2023, the artwork achieved £101,600 (including fees).

£100,800 for A Certain Degree of Mystery Surrounds the Way I Do My Hair

(£100,800)

 An abstracted palette of greys, red, blue, and orange showcases a bold caricature face drawn in black lines. The side portrait view reveals exaggerated lips in red, an eye in blue, and an orange element that can be interpreted as hair or a crown.Image © Christie's / A Certain Degree of Mystery Surrounds the Way I Do My Hair © Thierry Noir 2020

A Certain Degree of Mystery Surrounds the Way I Do My Hair (2020) highlights Noir's adept utilisation of a limited colour palette, primarily greys and blues, punctuated by lively accents of red lips and golden orange hair. The artwork's playful representation of hair resembling a crown resonates with its title. This piece stands as one of Noir's top-selling works, attaining an impressive £100,800 (including fees) in Christie's online Post-War & Contemporary art sale.

£94,500 for Perfect Light Over The Dancefloor

Perfect Light Over The Dancefloor by Thierry Noir - Christie's 2023 Image © Christie's / Perfect Light Over The Dancefloor © Thierry Noir 2023

Cool and Funky, Perfect Light Over The Dancefloor (2023) encapsulates the dual inspirations of art and music with vibrant colours as Noir portrays his iconic exaggerated caricature figure in the form of a DJ, positioned over the DJ deck with headphones and hands on the turntable. Beyond its representation of musical culture, the artwork demonstrates Noir's adeptness in geometric and colour abstraction. He skilfully utilises the shapes of the DJ board, table, and background to create symmetrical qualities within the piece. Recognised for its artistic merit and lightheartedness, this work achieved a sale price of £94,500 (including fees) at Christie's online auction in October 2023.

£88,200 for Flower To The People Of London

(£88,200)

An abstracted palette with grey at the bottom and light blue on top, representing the sky and pavement. A vibrant caricature walks in the middle, depicted in abstracted yellow, orange, and pink hues, outlined in bold black lines. The figure gazes downward at a three-petaled flower held in its hand. The artwork is signed "NOIR" in the bottom left corner.Image © Sotheby's / Flower To The People Of London © Thierry Noir 2014

Differing from his typical cropped portraits, Flower To The People Of London (2014) presents a full-bodied caricature figure in Noir's signature two-dimensional side portrait style. The figure, holding a three-petaled pink flower, deviates from his usual cropped portraits. This artwork, created in 2014, holds particular significance as it coincided with the centenary of World War I, a moment of great importance in Britain's commemoration of the war, often marked by the wearing of poppy flowers. The figure in the artwork appears to grasp a poppy with a missing petal, symbolising a fallen soldier. This piece achieved £88,200 (including fees) at Sotheby's online sale in May 2022, ranking among Noir's top-selling works.

£72,674 for Nächstes Mal kaufe ich eine noch grössere (Next Time I buy an even Bigger One)

(€82,550 (EUR))

 A vibrant abstracted palette of blue, green, orange, yellow, red, and brown. A bold black line creates a scenery with green grass, and a two-dimensional caricature figure walks staring the viewer in a side profile, holding either a three-petaled green flower or a windmill in its hand.Image © Sotheby's / Nächstes Mal kaufe ich eine noch grössere (Next Time I buy an even Bigger One) © Thierry Noir 1996

Nächstes Mal kaufe ich eine noch grössere (Next Time I Buy An Even Bigger One) (1996) by Noir is a smaller-scale artwork featuring one of his iconic figures against a vibrant backdrop of a grassy landscape and a vivid blue sky. The deliberate colouration creates a harmonious palette, with bold black lines adding contrast and life to the composition. The caricature, holding a broken windmill toy, conveys a sense of optimism and aspiration through its title. Originating from a private collection in Germany, it achieved £72,674 (fees included) at a Sotheby's online sale in Germany.

£63,500 for The Calm Sky Over the Pedestrian Street Makes Me Want To Walk Straight To The Shopping Mall

The Calm Sky Over the Pedestrian Street Makes Me Want To Walk Straight To The Shopping Mall by Thierry Noir - Sotheby's 2023Image © Sotheby's / The Calm Sky Over the Pedestrian Street Makes Me Want To Walk Straight To The Shopping Mall © Thierry Noir 2019

Noir's The Calm Sky Over the Pedestrian Street Makes Me Want To Walk Straight To The Shopping Mall (2019) was presented at Sotheby's Modern & Contemporary Day Auction in June 2023. It features a collage portrayal of Noir's distinctive caricatures, with their exaggerated faces fitting together seamlessly. These collaged pieces have gained popularity in the market, and this particular work sold for £63,500 (including fees), firmly establishing itself among Noir's top-selling works and reflecting his increasing prominence in the secondary art market.

£56,700 for Meeting Point

(£56,700)

 A vibrant pink and orange abstracted palette with a bold black line drawing of an abstracted caricature. The figure is two-dimensional and features a prominent white eyeball. The artwork is signed "NOIR" in the bottom right-hand corner.Image © Sotheby's / Meeting Point © Thierry Noir 2016

Meeting Point (2016) showcases another of Noir's distinctive facial portraits, characterised by its unique side-profile perspective. In this piece, a vivid orange visage comes to life through Noir's masterful use of bold black lines set against a lively backdrop of pink and orange abstractions. Departing from traditional facial features, Noir embraces a more abstract form, demonstrating a keen awareness of artistic trends. By accentuating the recess between the figure's facial planes, Noir invites viewers to contemplate the ”meeting point,’’ as hinted at in the title. This fosters interpretation and adds an intriguing layer of ambiguity to the composition. Notably, this artwork successfully sold at Sotheby's in June 2022, fetching a price of £56,700 (fees included).

£52,920 for Fruits are piling up in front of me. It is a good idea! I am going to buy clementines for tonight’s desert

(£52,920)

A vibrant orange canvas featuring perfectly puzzled side profiled caricatured faces drawn with thick black lines. The faces have exaggerated red lips, vibrant blue hair, and different-colored eyeballs. The artwork is signed "NOIR" in the bottom right-hand corner.Image © Phillips / Fruits are piling up in front of me. It is a good idea! I am going to buy clementines for tonight’s desert © Thierry Noir 2019

Noir's collage-based creations, such as Fruits are piling up in front of me. It is a good idea! I am going to buy clementines for tonight's dessert (2019), epitomise his artistic intricacy and unique visual vocabulary, offering intriguing interpretations as the vibrant, clementine orange background bursts to life with bold black faces arranged in multiples. Crafted with Noir's distinctive black lines, these distorted visages coalesce in a harmonious tessellated composition playfully referenced by the title, “Fruits are piling up in front of me’’. Noir intentionally shapes a discernible pattern of repeated forms within the piece, attesting to the selling price of £52,920 (fees included) at Phillips in June 2020.

£52,920 for Classic Blue Head

(£52,920)

An abstracted canvas with prominent shades of blue. A side-profiled caricature is drawn in thick, bold black lines, creating an enlarged and exaggerated face using abstracted colors. The figure features exaggerated red lips, a small patch of red hair, and one white eyeball.Image © Sotheby's / Classic Blue Head © Thierry Noir 2014

The appeal of Classic Blue Head (2014) resides in its enchanting array of blue hues. The interplay of rich cerulean and vibrant cobalt, punctuated by dashes of red, forms a captivating visual tapestry. The artwork's straightforward title, “Classic Blue Head,’’ establishes a direct connection with the viewer, inviting them to immerse themselves in the serene depths of blue. This work is prominent in Noir's most sought-after pieces, commanding a notable price of £52,920 (fees included) at Sotheby's in April 2022.

Leah Mentzis

Leah Mentzis, Partnerships Manager[email protected]

Interested in buying or selling
Thierry Noir?

Browse artworks
Thierry Noir

Thierry Noir

20 works