Romanian Adrian Ghenie's portrait of Communist dictator's wife sells in Sotheby’s auction

Two more paintings by Romanian Adrian Ghenie were sold at a Sotheby’s auction in London last week, just one day after the artist’s Sunflower painting sold for a record of EUR 4.5 million in another action. Ghenie’s Untitled (Elena Ceausescu), a portrait of late Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's wife, sold for GBP 197,000 (over EUR 250,000) at the Contemporary Art Day Auction organized on February 11. Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu were executed in December 1989. The painting is based on a photo of Elena Ceausescu taken the day of her execution, according to information posted on Sotheby’s website. Another portrait by Adrian Ghenie, named Untitled, sold for GBP 137,000 (some EUR 174,000) at the same auction. The painting had an estimated price between GBP 60,000 and GBP 80,000. Born is 1977 in Baia Mare, northern Romania, Adrian Ghenie is one of the most talented painters working today. He has graduated from the Art and Design University of Cluj-Napoca, and now lives and works in Cluj-Napoca, Berlin, and London. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com