Modern art remains highly popular and valuable among art connoisseurs and collectors from all corners of the globe. Here is a list of the top 4 most expensive modern art pieces ever sold, with a description of their cultural significance and source of unique value.

Top 4 Examples of the Most Expensive Modern Art Pieces Ever Sold

#1 Willem de Kooning’s “Interchange”

Interchange, a 1955 oil on canvas painting, is broadly regarded as de Kooning’s most important work. Besides, experts agree on the fact that it marked a pivotal moment in the development of the Abstract Impressionist movement. Interchange is also the first example of de Kooning’s creative shift from female figure painting to abstract urban landscapes. This large canvas is sized 79″ x 69″, creating a truly unforgettable impression on the audience. It was sold to Kenneth C. Griffin for $300 million in a 2015 private deal.

#2 Pablo Picasso’s “Le Femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’)”

The 1955 painting Le Femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’) is the final work in Picasso’s series of 15 paintings of women, inspired by Eugène Delacroix’s The Women of Algiers. This work is widely known for the vibrant color palette and complex composition that Pablo Picasso used to express his fascination with Oriental themes. The painting was sold for over $179 million at Christie’s auction in New York in 2015. Until 2017, this sale was regarded as the most expensive modern art deal.

#3 Mark Rothko’s “No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red)”

Mark Rothko went down in art history as a master of color field paintings. Many of his images have become iconic, with Rothko’s visual language being a source of deep emotional responses among the viewers. This monumental 92.1″ x 73″ oil on canvas painting was created in 1951 and sold to a private buyer, Dmitry Rybolovlev, in 2014. The final price of the deal was $186 million.

#4 Jackson Pollock’s “Number 17A”

This 1948 painting by the iconic American painter Jackson Pollock was sold for $200 million to Kenneth C. Griffin in 2015, forming a part of the audacious $500 million art sale together with de Kooning’s Interchange and other art objects. Number 17A was created using oil on fiberboard during Pollock’s most productive “drip period” and still remains one of the icons of modern Abstract Expressionism.

These and other modern art objects form the backbone of high-ranking art sales. Rare, unique art pieces are held in private collections, galleries, and museums to illustrate the genius of groundbreaking artists for years to come.