Christie's got the ball rolling for spring contemporary auction week in New York on Monday with a sale focused on “the gritty, underbelly-esque side of contemporary art.” Bidders sent the sale to a total $134.6 million, including buyer’s premiums, above the high-end estimate of $124.1 million (which does not include buyer's premiums).

Just one lot failed to sell, a Cindy Sherman, and two dipped below estimates. The rest resounded, including 14 new artist records achieved for Wade Guyton, Louis Eisner, Joe Bradley, Alex Israel, Peter Doig, On Kawara, Dan Colen, Richard Prince, Martin Kippenberger, Thomas Schütte, Michael Riedel, Glenn Ligon, R.H. Quaytman and Adam McEwen.

Phone bidders pursued the top lot, an untitled Kippenberger self-portrait from 1988, to a total $18.6 million. Auctions of contemporary art, including Christie's major sale, continue this week followed by American art sales next week.