Ana Benaroya’s Be My Baby sold for $115,920 at Phillips New Now New York Auction on Sept. 28, 2022 in New York City. The Yale-educated Jersey City, N.J. resident has had a stellar career so far, with a decade of experience as an illustrator under her belt. Having switched gears to focus on her painting, Benaroya is now represented by Venus Over Manhattan Gallery in New York City. She counts The New Yorker, Lincoln Center and “ABC’s World News Tonight” as some of her clients.
Benaroya’s works pack a punch with their vibrant gem-colored tones and comic book influence (from her years as an illustrator). Known for paintings of empowered, larger-than-life women, Be My Baby is an homage to strong women and their unique appearances. The painting is also a reference to the Ronettes’ 1963 hit of the same name. In an April 2022 interview with Artnet, Benaroya revealed that she often works while listening to music and is inspired by song lyrics and titles. She always likes to work with a theme for her solo shows.
If Phillips’ New Now New York auction is any indication, a bright future is ahead for this rising star. Focused on emerging talent, the auction set new benchmarks for many of the featured artists, including Benaroya, who made her auction debut. Per Artnet, she was among those who saw the most competition among bidders, with the winning bidder (based in Asia) paying more than five times the estimate.
Some of our other favorites, from the Phillips New Now New York Auction on Sept. 28, 2022 in New York City, can be found throughout the issue.
