Australian-born, Las Vegas-based artist Peter Lik’s photograph “Phantom” has reportedly sold to a private collector for US$6.5 million, making it the most expensive photograph ever sold. The announcement of the sale, which was made on the artist’s website, also revealed that the same collector bought the works “Illusion” and “Eternal Moods” for US$2.4 million and US$1.1 million respectively, bringing the total sale to $10 million.The record-setting work was taken in Arizona’s Antelope Canyon where Lik captured what is described as a “black and white depiction of a ghost-like figure.” According to Lik, “Certain textures and contours found in nature lend themselves beautifully to black and white photography. “The intensity of contrasting light and dark spaces was surprising, but made for some of the most powerful images I’ve ever created.” he added.Lik operates outside the mainstream art market, selling works through his own chain of galleries, of which there are 14 in the USA. Lik’s “outsider” status means that here is really no way of justifying the prices paid for “Phantom” and the other two works, other than the fact that the collector was willing to pay what he did for the works. According to the sale press release, Lik now holds four of the top 20 spots for most expensive photographs ever sold. Follow @ARTINFO_Aus
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