Thierry Noir Value: Top Prices Paid at Auction

Brompton Road at 6pm (2014) is a large-scale oil painting on canvas featuring caricatured side-profile faces executed in bold black sinuous lines against a vibrant blue backdrop, inviting various interpretations of its title.

Thierry Noir first painted his signature face motifs on the Berlin Wall, firmly rooting them within a political and historical context, juxtaposed with dynamic and playful hues. This artwork gained significant acclaim, achieving £107,950 (fees included) at Sotheby's online Contemporary Curated sale in April 2023, establishing Noir's auction record and solidifying his position in the contemporary art world.

My Perceptive Vision Crosses the Darkness and Stares at the Ferryboats That Take to the Sea (2020) is a large-scale canvas exemplifying Thierry Noir's talent in creating captivating pieces using a minimal colour palette. The composition predominantly features striking red lips, shades of grey, and an electrifying chartreuse eye.

This artwork embodies Noir's playful artistic language, evident in the portrait's title and symbolic references. The title hints at the figure's resemblance to a sailor, mentioning “darkness’’ representing the sea's depth and mystery. In addition to its contemporary aesthetic, this work carries a narrative and symbolism that enrich the minimalist depiction. Presented in Sotheby's Contemporary Curated online sale in April 2023, the artwork achieved £101,600 (fees included).

A Certain Degree of Mystery Surrounds the Way I Do My Hair (2020) showcases Thierry Noir's skilful use of limited colours, predominantly grey and blue, with vibrant accents of red lips and golden orange hair. Thierry Noir's playful approach to figuration aligns with the work's title, referencing the portrayal of hair that resembles a crown.

This artwork is among Noir's top-selling works, achieving an impressive £100,800 (fees included) in Christie's online Post-War & Contemporary art sale.

Unlike his typical cropped portraits, Flower To The People Of London (2014) features a full-bodied caricature figure in Thierry Noir's distinctive two-dimensional side portrait style. The figure strolls, holding a three-petaled pink flower, departing from his usual cropped portraits. Noir has personally emphasised the importance of this artwork, which was created in 2014, coinciding with the centenary of World War I. This moment held significant meaning in Britain's commemoration of the war, often remembered by citizens wearing a poppy flower. The figure in the artwork appears to hold a poppy with a missing petal, suggestively symbolising a fallen soldier. This artwork achieved £88,200 (fees included) at Sotheby's online sale in May 2022, ranking among Noir's top-selling works.

In contrast to his usual larger canvases, Nächstes Mal kaufe ich eine noch grössere (Next Time I Buy An Even Bigger One) (1996) is a smaller scale showcasing one of Thierry Noir's figures set against a vibrant backdrop of a grassy landscape and a vivid blue sky. The figure's colouration presents a striking contrast: a blue head against the blue sky, yellow feet and hands that echo the yellow cloud, an orange dress that matches a bush, and green sleeves that blend with the surrounding grass. This deliberate arrangement creates a harmonious and unified palette, revealing Noir's skill as a colourist.

Noir's signature bold black lines bring life to the contrasting and abstract colours. The figure is presented holding a broken windmill toy with a missing blade. Through the artwork's title, Noir conveys a sense of grandeur and hope in his artistic language without revealing too much, exuding a prevailing sense of optimism and aspiration.

Originating from a private collection in Germany, Nächstes Mal kaufe ich eine noch grössere (Next Time I Buy An Even Bigger One) (1996) was featured in Sotheby's online sale in Germany, achieving £72,674 (fees included).

Meeting Point (2016) showcases another of Thierry 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).

Thierry 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.

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 Thierry Noir's most sought-after pieces, commanding a notable price of £52,920 (fees included) at Sotheby's in April 2022.

A Particularly Successful Rush Hour (2014) is a prime example of Thierry Noir's collage technique, capturing the essence of his artistic expression. This vibrant artwork radiates Noir's joyful approach, as seen in the caricatured and distorted faces that populate the composition. The title mirrors the artist's optimistic language, contributing to the overall exuberance of the piece. Despite the bustling and lively nature of the composition, the work maintains equilibrium through strategic colour placements.

This work sold at Phillips in April 2022, where it realised £50,400 (fees included), reaffirming its value and market appeal within Noir's body of work.

In his recent artistic ventures, Thierry Noir ventures ambitiously into the realm of shaped canvas works, as evidenced by BMX Racing (2020). This piece reflects his innovative spirit, presented as a dynamic orange circular canvas that embodies Noir's distinctive caricatured style. In this artwork, Noir boldly deconstructs the figure into distinct elements, featuring the head, arms, and legs, all suspended above a two-dimensional bicycle within the circular orange backdrop.

This exploration of form and composition has not only garnered attention from art enthusiasts but has also earned its place in Noir's tenth top-selling works, achieving £47,880 (fees included) at Phillips in April 2022.