Sotheby’s Buoyant $303.4 Million Modern Art Evening Sale: By the Numbers

Sotheby’s modern art evening sale on Tuesday night generated $303.4 million, with a 97.6% sell-through rate and a hammer total of $256.5 million. The top lot was Henri Matisse’s *La Chaise Lorraine* (circa 1919), which sold for $48.4 million after a prolonged bidding war. The house withdrew three lots before the sale to improve optics, and 85% of the lots were guaranteed, mostly by third parties. Asian collectors were active at seven-figure price points, contrasting with sparse high-end bidding at Christie’s the previous night.

TEFAF New York 2026: Contemporary Gains Ground

TEFAF New York 2026 is set to feature a stronger contemporary art presence, signaling a shift in the fair's traditional focus on Old Masters and antiques. The event will expand its contemporary offerings, attracting a broader range of galleries and collectors.

Studio 54 Fine Art Is Betting on a More Nimble Gallery Model

Studio 54 Fine Art, founded and directed by Gary Williamson, is pioneering a nimble gallery model without a permanent brick-and-mortar space, instead meeting collectors through rotating physical exhibitions and behind-the-scenes matchmaking. The gallery is currently presenting the exhibition “Empire of Silence: The Untamed Majesty of Rowan Blackwell” in Switzerland, featuring large-scale photographs of wild animals by artist Rowan Blackwell, on view through August 31. Williamson, who transitioned from luxury goods and property investment to founding the gallery in Milan in 2016, emphasizes a focus on quality, provenance, and long-term value, with a roster of artists selected for technical mastery and distinctive vision.

How Did Phillips Pull Off a $115.2 Million ‘White Glove’ Sale? Here’s What the Numbers Say

Phillips achieved a $115.2 million 'white glove' evening sale in New York on Tuesday night, with 41 of 43 lots sold and a 100% sell-through rate after withdrawals. The auction more than doubled last year's $52 million total, led by Andy Warhol's *Sixteen Jackies* (1964) at $16.2 million. Only three records were set—for P.S. Krøyer, Pat Passlof, and Joseph Yaeger—but the sale's success was driven by third-party guarantees on 21 lots and newly launched priority bids.

Tutto venduto e il doppio del ricavo rispetto all’anno scorso. A New York fa boom anche l’asta di Phillips

Phillips held its Modern & Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York on May 19, 2026, achieving a complete sell-out with a total of $115.2 million. All 41 lots were sold, doubling the result from May 2025 ($52 million). Top lots included Andy Warhol's *Sixteen Jackies* ($16.2 million), Claude Monet's *La Route de Vétheuil, effet de neige* ($9.9 million), and Jackson Pollock's *Untitled* (1948) ($9.2 million). New auction records were set for Lee Bontecou, Pat Passlof, P.S. Krøyer, and Joseph Yaeger, while works by Salman Toor and Cecily Brown also sold above estimates.

A Large Dalpayrat Jardinière Acquired by Orsay

Une grande jardinière de Dalpayrat acquise par Orsay

The Musée d'Orsay in Paris has acquired a large jardinière (planter) by French ceramicist Adrien Dalpayrat, along with a jewelry coffer by Henri-Auguste Fourdinois. The purchases were made from a sale at Hôtel Drouot by the Thierry de Maigret auction house, where the museum notably did not exercise preemption rights on other works by Jean-Marie Pointu, Eugène Lion, and Paul Jeanneney. The museum justified its inaction by citing the cost of these two acquisitions.

Could TikTok become the place to buy and sell works of art?

TikTok potrà diventare il posto dove comprare e vendere opere d’arte?

TikTok Shop has launched a new "Fine Art" category, allowing users to buy and sell artworks directly within the app. The initiative was spearheaded by British artist-influencer Sophie Tea, who sold a series of 20 oil paintings titled "Bric-a-Brac" during a three-hour live stream that combined performance art, studio visits, and televised sales. Each piece sold for around £2,800, with TikTok taking a 9% commission. The move applies discovery commerce—where products find users through social feeds rather than active searches—to the art market, bypassing traditional gallery intermediaries.