Gerhard Richter’s ‘Kerze’ Auctioned for $35.1 Million
By Darren Smith, Arts Reporter
May 21, 2026
In the hushed elegance of Christie’s Rockefeller Center salesroom on the evening of May 20, one of the most anticipated works of the spring auction season flickered into the spotlight and found a new home. Gerhard Richter’s Kerze (Candle), painted in 1982, from the private collection of the late legendary dealer Marian Goodman, sold for $35.1 million with buyer’s premium, hammering at $30 million. While the result fell short of its ambitious $35–50 million estimate and Richter’s auction record of $46.3 million set in 2015, it still ranked as the evening’s top lot and the fourth-highest price ever achieved for the German master at auction.
The sale capped a powerhouse evening that saw Christie’s Post-War and Contemporary offerings, bolstered by works from Goodman’s estate, realize a robust $162.7 million across related sessions—its strongest performance in the category in New York since 2021. Five Richter canvases from the Goodman holdings landed in the top ten, collectively contributing significantly to the night’s momentum.
Richter’s Candle series, executed in his signature blurred photorealist style, has long captivated collectors and critics alike. This particular example, measuring approximately 32¾ by 24½ inches, depicts a single white candle against a muted, atmospheric ground. The flame burns with quiet intensity, its soft glow rendered through Richter’s masterful scraping and blurring technique that dissolves photographic precision into painterly ambiguity. Painted at a pivotal moment in Richter’s career, the work embodies themes of transience, memory, and mortality—a modern vanitas that resonates deeply in the context of Goodman’s recent passing at age 97 in January 2026.
Marian Goodman, the visionary founder of Marian Goodman Gallery, played an instrumental role in elevating Richter’s profile in the United States and beyond. She began representing the artist in the 1980s, fostering a relationship that spanned nearly four decades until Richter’s notable shift to David Zwirner in 2023. Goodman acquired Kerze directly and held it as a personal treasure, one of several Richters that defined her discerning eye. Her collection, estimated at around $65 million overall, showcased not only Richter but a constellation of blue-chip contemporaries, reflecting her profound influence on the global contemporary art ecosystem.
As auctioneer Yü-Ge Wang opened bidding at $22 million, the room tensed with anticipation. Increments climbed steadily at first, yet momentum plateaued quickly. A phone bidder, guided by Christie’s specialist Katherine Arnold, ultimately secured the work after a relatively brief contest. The presence of a third-party guarantee underscored the auction house’s confidence, though the final price reflected a market that remains selective even for trophy works.
Art historians often situate Richter’s candle paintings within his broader exploration of photography’s relationship to painting. Emerging from his early experiments with found imagery and blurred realism, these works bridge his figurative and abstract practices. The candle motif recurs across decades, symbolizing both illumination and inevitable extinguishment. In Kerze (Candle), the viewer confronts not just an object but a meditation on time itself—fitting for an artist now in his nineties whose oeuvre continues to challenge perceptions of authenticity and representation.
Goodman’s passing marked the end of an era. Born in 1928, she built one of the most respected galleries in the world, championing European and American artists including Richter, Marcel Broodthaers, Jeff Wall, and many others. Her New York and Paris spaces became hubs for intellectual rigor and artistic ambition. The decision to consign her personal collection to Christie’s generated buzz for months, with previews drawing record crowds eager to glimpse works long held privately.
Market observers note that while the Candle did not ignite record-breaking fireworks, the broader context of New York’s May auctions remains encouraging. Strong results for other blue-chip names—Donald Judd, Peter Doig, and Cecily Brown among them—alongside fresh records in adjacent sales, suggest resilience amid economic uncertainties. Richter’s market, in particular, has proven enduring, with museum-quality examples continuing to command seven- and eight-figure sums.
The sale also highlights the enduring power of personal provenance. Works with storied ownership histories, especially those tied to influential figures like Goodman, carry added cachet. As one specialist remarked, Kerze was not merely a painting but “a quiet message of hope” and a testament to a transformative dealer-artist partnership. Its new owner acquires not only a visual masterpiece but a chapter in art history.
Beyond the hammer price, the moment underscores shifting dynamics in the secondary market. With major collections entering the fray and younger collectors seeking depth alongside spectacle, auctions like this one serve as barometers for taste and value. Richter, at 94, remains a towering figure whose retrospective influence shows no signs of waning. His candles continue to burn brightly, illuminating paths for future generations of artists and collectors.
For those inspired by this iconic work and the legacy of Marian Goodman, explore Christie’s upcoming sales and exhibitions featuring Richter’s oeuvre. Visit Marian Goodman Gallery’s archives to trace the artist’s journey, or delve deeper into Richter’s practice at David Zwirner. Engage with the conversation on contemporary masters by following major institutions and perhaps even considering how such artworks enrich public and private collections worldwide. The flame of artistic discovery awaits your attention—don’t let it fade. (Word count: 852)
Cover image is Ai generated
