Impressive First Night On The Fine Art Auction For KeF!

Simon Rohlen, aka KeF!, with Fine Art Auction host Richard English prepare to drop the gavel on a Louis Vuitton handbag.

By Thomas Leturgey

The spectacular German artist KeF! experienced a good first night this weekend on the Fine Art Auction.

Simon Rohlen, aka KeF! met with auction host Richard English in the Atlanta, Georgia home of the Fine Art Auction, a few minutes before 11 p.m. on Saturday night to talk about his metal sculpture, an experimental proof that made its debut on American television.

English called the piece “substantial.”

“They are all slightly different,” commented Rohlen on the first sculpture of the evening. The work, the only of its kind, immediately kicked off with a $1,500 bid, and then $1,800.

“I’m excited to see this one,” said Victoria, British Columbia’s Nino Barrette, an art historian and expert. While Barrette commented about the piece, bidding shot up to $3,500 and then $3,800.

Barrette and English discussed how this work wasn’t canvas, but “razor thin” metal that was still durable and strong. Bidding rose to $4,200 and then $4,000 as interest started to pique.

 English added that Rohlen was on hand to dedicate the piece to the winning bidder. Promises to purchase the work increased first to $6,500 and then $6,750 and then to $7,000.

Ever the professional, English allowed for a steady bidding class to consider their last and final offer. English brought the gavel high before slamming it down on an $8,000 bid.

Rohlen returned to the screen to talk about another sculpture, which was more horizontal than the first. English started the bidding off at $3,500 here and it worked. A busy phone bank increased the bids to $3,700, then to $4,000. A flurry of interested bids followed as the value ballooned to $5,000, $5,250, $5,750 and well above $6,000.

Rohlen talked about some of his work in 2017 and a little about his professional history. With two minutes left on the designated clock, the value stretched to $7,250. Barrette talked about the shadow the work could cast and the overall “calmness” of Rohlen’s work. Barrette called this “an extraordinary steel sculpture” as bidding closed at $8,500.

There were two lots left, including a “monumental” painting from 2022 called “Golden Time of Happiness #9.”

English stressed that a similarly sized KeF! painting sold on the Fine Art Auction for $63,000.

Rohlen was asked about his process, which is called “different.” He likes to let the instruments “flow” when he is creating. “It depends on my mood,” he also said. KeF! employs painting as an anxiety buster. “It’s mostly about serenity,” he added. “And being calm.”

The piece, entitled “Golden Time of Happiness” measured 58” by 74.” Rohlen said he “maybe does four or five” of those paintings annually. Bidding rose from $6,250 to $6,500 to $7,000” in quick fashion.

When English instituted the “final warning” clock, the bidding improved to $10,000 with a little over a minute to go. As the clock wound down, prices eclipsed $20,000 and sold for what English called well under its value, for $21,000. Rohlen did personalize this one as well.

The final lot of the auction evening was a hand painted, Taurillon Capucines BB Louis Vuitton bag that immediately posted a $10,000 bid.

English noted the last time a KeF! handbag sold at the Fine Art Auction; it was two men vying for the winning bid.

“I like fashion,” Rohlen said of the inspiration of working with Louis Vuitton. He did joke that he follows fashion, but still shows up on television in an all-black ensemble. “I wanted to do something with handbags, so I just went for it.”

Rohlen said handbags are popular, as he saw a male rapper “on the news” carrying a clutch more traditionally reserved for women.

Bidding escalated quickly from $12,000 to $13,500, $14,000, $15,500, and ultimately to $18,000.

English called Rohlen in front of the camera one last time as the show’s shot clock was expiring like Cinderella’s coach ride home at midnight.

At the end of the evening (English said bidding would continue off air), the KeF! colored Louis Vuitton bag sold for at least $18,000. If the buyer’s credit card doesn’t bounce (it did for one prospective art owner a few weeks ago), fans will learn how it sold during Sunday night’s show.

Rohlen is scheduled to return Sunday evening from 7:00 p.m. and midnight for the second and last appearance of the weekend. He is set to settle in with host Ray Taylor Sunday evening. He will have to more sculptures among the familiar inventory.