Pop Art painting sells for almost $30 million

LONDON — It was a thrilling night in London as Sotheby’s recent Contemporary Art Evening Auction saw a selection of iconic and powerful works go under the hammer, achieving a sale total of more than $120 million.

Foremost among them was David Hockney’s sumptuous, which sold for $29,839,424. One of the defining works of the Pop Art movement, the vibrant luxury of its blue skies and carefree poolside ephemerality are today etched in the fabric of contemporary cultural imagination. This was the third highest price achieved for a work by Hockney at auction, and eight times the price achieved when the work last appeared at auction in 2006. Hockney’s will also lead Sotheby’s Hong Kong Contemporary Art Evening Auction in April.