Freeman’s | Hindman Brings Exceptional Works Across Eras to Chicago with Fall Fine Art Auctions

On September 25 and 26, Freeman’s | Hindman will present a thoughtfully curated selection of paintings, sculptures, works on paper, prints, and multiples. The auctions feature prominent names representing master artists—from Barry Flanagan, Gertrude Abercrombie, Joel Shapiro, and Richard Hunt to Julian Opie, Keith Haring, and Ed Ruscha. Our fall Post War and Contemporary Art and Prints and Multiples auctions in our Chicago saleroom offer collectors exceptional opportunities to acquire significant works across movements, media, and generations.

Barry Flanagan (Welsh, 1941–2009) Hare on Curly Bell, 1980 | Estimate: $150,000 – 250,000

Post War and Contemporary Art

Leading the September 25 Post War and Contemporary Art sale is Barry Flanagan’s whimsical yet commanding bronze Hare on Curly Bell, 1980 (lot 59; estimated value $150,000–250,000), one of the artist’s most iconic motifs. The hare is poised majestically atop the curve of a fallen bell, limbs outstretched and carefree. Inspired by a chance sighting on the Sussex Downs, Flanagan began depicting the animal in the late 1970s, capturing its lively spirit and transforming it into a lasting symbol of movement, joy, and vitality.

Gertrude Abercrombie (American, 1909-1977) Home Run at White Sox Park, 1964 | Estimate: $60,000 – 80,000

Also of note is Gertrude Abercrombie’s surreal daydream of a painting Home Run at White Sox Park, 1964 (lot 22; estimated value: $60,000 – 80,000). Though set against the backdrop of a baseball stadium, the work transcends the sport entirely. A luminous blue-green sky—punctuated by eight white, circular puffs and a solitary red balloon—reflects Abercrombie’s belief in the sky as a mirror of the earth. The puffs, echoing the celebratory fireworks of a White Sox home run, serve less as a tribute to baseball and more as a poetic gesture toward the metaphysical. As with much of Abercrombie’s work, this deceptively simple scene quietly shifts the viewer from the realm of the familiar to the fantastical. In addition, Jack Bush’s powerfully vibrant hard-edged abstraction Piston, 1967 (lot 45; estimate: $50,000 – 70,000), and Joel Shapiro’s elegantly engineered figural minimalism in Untitled, 2001–07 (lot 48; estimated value: $60,000 – 80,000).

“My picks to click from the star-studded September 25 Post-War and Contemporary Art auction are an uplifting, summer firecracker of a Gertrude Abercrombie painting titled Home Run at White Sox Park, 1964—slightly out of left field for her, but no less of a knockout—and Barry Flanagan’s wildly whimsical bronze sculpture Hare on Curly Bell, 1980, ringing true like a fairy tale yet to be told,” said Zack Wirsum, SVP, Head of Department, Post War and Contemporary Art. “I expect both to soar out of the park, going leaps and bounds beyond their estimates.”

Additional Top Lots:

· Cindy Sherman, Untitled #212 (from History Portrait), 1989 (lot 4; estimate: $40,000 – 60,000)

· Gladys Nilsson, Blewbanananosask, 1968 (lot 25; estimate: $15,000 – 25,000)

· Nam June Paik, Street of Seoul, 1988 (lot 46; estimate: $15,000 – 25,000) 

· Richard Hunt, Natural Form, 1978 (lot 51; estimate: $30,000 – 50,000)

· Isamu Noguchi, Figure Emerging, 1982 (lot 53; estimate: $50,000 – 70,000)

Prints and Multiples

The September 26 Prints and Multiples auction features three distinct sessions—Contemporary, Modern, and Old Masters—ensuring there’s something for every collector. Highlights of the sale include Julian Opie’s vibrant Walking in London II (set of 5), 2014 (lot 8; estimate: $60,000–80,000); Keith Haring’s boldly graphic Untitled (from Three Lithographs), 1985 (lot 21; estimate: $50,000–70,000); Ed Ruscha and Raymond Pettibon’s signature text work Amen (State I), 2009 (lot 1; estimate: $4,000–6,000); and Tom Wesselmann’s figurative Hedy (Sandpaper), 1985/90 (lot 4; estimate: $10,000–15,000). Equally notable are the Old Masters, with Rembrandt’s The Blind Fiddler, 1631 (lot 108; estimate: $800–1,200), and Albrecht Dürer’s Saint Jerome in His Study, 1514 (lot 106; estimate: $20,000–30,000). The sale will be a treat for all discerning collectors to enjoy perusing centuries of artworks created on paper.

Julian Opie (British, b. 1958) Walking in London II (set of 5), 2014 | Estimate: $60,000 – 80,000

“We are thrilled to present this selection of editions anchored by a strong session of Contemporary Prints, while also showcasing exceptional Old Master impressions,” said Christina Kiriakos, Associate Specialist, Fine Art. “Truly, the auction offers opportunities for collectors of every category and at all price points.” Additional Top Lots: · Robert Motherwell, Red Sea II, 1979, (lot 46; estimate $8,000 – 12,000) · Robert Motherwell, Red Sea I, 1976, (lot 47; estimate $8,000 – 12,000) · Pablo Picasso, La Pique Cassée,1959, (lot 73; estimate $20,000 – 30,000)

Sale Preview:

Highlights from the Post War and Contemporary Art and Prints and Multiples auctions will be on view at 1550 W Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60607.

September 20 – 21 | 11am – 4pm September 22 – 24 | 10am – 5pm