2013 has been a year to remember for the contemporary art world. After the astronomical success of the contemporary auctions in November 2012, it was hard to predict whether the trend in 2013 would be to go downhill, flatten out, or spike further.
Comprising of the highest-selling lot at auction of all times, the highest-selling lot at auction by a living artist and 4 record prices achieved at auction for individual artists, the conclusions are yours to draw.
Have a look at the top lots of 2013:
1. Francis Bacon (1909-1992), Three Studies of Lucian Freud, US$142,4 million.
Sold at Christie's, it became the highest-selling lot of all times, breaking the previous auction record of Edvard Munch's The Scream set in May 2012.
2. Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster), US$105,4 million.
Sold at Sotheby's, this became the highest-selling Warhol lot, setting a record at auction for the artist.
3. Jeff Koons (born 1955), Balloon Dog (Orange), US$58,4 million.
Sold at Christie's, this became the highest-selling lot at auction for an artwork by a living artist. The previous record for a living artist was Gerhard Richter's Domplatz, Mainland, sold for US$37.1 million sold by Sotheby's and achieved again in 2013 (what a year!)
4. Jackson Pollock (1912-1956), Number 19, US$58,3 million.
Sold by Christie's, this piece set a new auction record for this Abstract Expressionist artist, far surpassing its $25-35 million estimate range.
5. Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Coca-Cola 3, US$ 57,2 million.
Sold by Christie's. No, it didn't break any records, but don't let it pale in comparison - this is US$ 57,2 million you're looking at!
6. Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997), Woman with Flowered Hat, US$56,1 million.
Sold by Christie's, this piece inspired by Pablo Picasso set a new auction record for yet another artist!
7. Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966), Grande Tête Mince, (Grande Tête De Diego) US$50 million.
Sold by Sotheby's this piece was cast in bronze in an edition of six in 1955. Another version of this work had raised $53,3 million in May 2010.
8. Jean Michel Basquiat (1960-1988), Dustheads, US$48.8 million.
Sold by Christie's, another record for the artist at auction. Basquiat created 800 paintings before dying at a very young age and prices for his work have advanced 500% over the past decade.
9. Mark Rothko (1903-1970), Number 11 (Untitled), US$46 million.
Sold by Christie's, this lot managed to enter the top 10 price achieved by the artist at auction, surpassing its high estimate of $35 million.
10. Barnett Newman (1905-1970), Onement VI, US$43,8 million.
Sold by Sotheby's, yes, this is another record for the artist!
After seeing these eye-popping 8-digit figures for some amazing art, what do you think we can expect for 2014?