German artist Gerhard Richter became the most expensive living artist when his "Abstaktes Bild" (804-9) sold in London on Friday for 21.3 million pounds ($34.2 million). The amount is the most paid at auction for a work by a contemporary artist, according to Sotheby's.

From the collection of guitarist Eric Clapton, the work went to an anonymous buyer for nearly double the high estimate of 12 million pounds.

The previous record for a living artist was set by a Jasper Johns American flag image from the collection of Michael Crichton that sold for $28.6 million in 2010.