Los Angeles

Andreas Gursky's photography is notable for its critical perspective on the consequences of capitalism and globalization on everyday life. Andreas began with small-scale black-and-white prints, but since the 1990s, he has been interested in tourism and commercial places, making works that reflect today's overpowering high-tech industries and worldwide markets. His works range from black and white images in newspapers to full-color landscape works, presenting a diversity of styles and scales that make his work, particularly appealing to critics and the general public.

Andreas Gursky's Los Angeles, executed in 1998, made multiple top 5, top 10, and top 15 lists of the most expensive photographs ever sold in auctions. When standing in front of this immense vista, the viewer is swept away by Gursky's depiction of Los Angeles. The horizon almost mimics the curvature of the Earth and is one of Andreas Gursky's greatest examples, measuring over three and a half meters in width. In true Gursky fashion, the window to current life provides a picture of the Los Angeles environment devoid of extraneous details.

He used a large-format view camera to focus on the crucial aspects of the Los Angeles skyline, creating an idealized composition of the city known for its fast-paced lifestyle. Los Angeles was sold for $2,931,890 at Sotheby's London in 2008.

Artist: Andreas Gursky

Price: $2.9 million