Frieze Los Angeles launched with significant early momentum as Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel acquired three quilts by artist Yvonne Wells from Fort Gansevoort before VIP hours officially began. The fair's opening day saw robust activity, including the $3.7 million sale of an Ed Ruscha painting, while major galleries like Pace Prints and Opera Gallery announced strategic expansions into Los Angeles and Houston respectively.
Sotheby's London will auction four major works from the Lewis Collection in its March 4 Modern and Contemporary evening sale. The highlights include a 1972 self-portrait by Francis Bacon, two portraits by Lucian Freud, and a rare swimming pool scene by Leon Kossoff, all representing the School of London movement.
Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Art Evening Sale in London achieved a rare 'white-glove' result, with all 53 lots finding buyers for a total of £131 million ($175 million). The auction was highlighted by a selection of four School of London masterpieces from the private collection of billionaire Joe Lewis, owner of Tottenham Hotspur. These works, including a 1972 Francis Bacon self-portrait and two Lucian Freud portraits, realized a combined £35.8 million ($47.8 million) and established a new auction record for artist Leon Kossoff.
Sotheby’s Modern and contemporary evening sale in London signaled a resilient recovery for the UK art market, totaling £131 million with fees and achieving a 98% sell-through rate. Despite geopolitical tensions and post-Brexit economic concerns, the auction room was notably crowded, driven by high-profile works from the collection of billionaire Joe Lewis. The evening's top lot was a 1972 Francis Bacon self-portrait, which sold for £16 million, while a major painting by Leon Kossoff shattered the artist's previous auction record.
Sotheby’s London Modern and Contemporary evening sale in March 2026 achieved a robust £130.6 million ($175 million), marking a significant 108.6 percent increase over the previous year's equivalent auction. The event was a "white glove" sale, with all 53 offered lots finding buyers, led by a Francis Bacon self-portrait that fetched £16 million. A notable highlight was a record-breaking £5.2 million sale for Leon Kossoff’s "Children’s Swimming Pool," which sparked a competitive ten-buyer bidding war.
art market minute mar 2 2749604
Frieze Los Angeles has concluded with reports of strong sales, with some dealers noting higher transaction volumes than at Art Basel Miami Beach. This surge in activity was accompanied by a record number of satellite events, signaling a growing interest in alternative fair models and a localized boost for the Southern California art scene.
Sotheby’s London kicked off its Spring 2026 marquee season with a series of high-energy auctions, totaling £154 million across its Modern & Contemporary sales. The week was highlighted by a "white-glove" evening auction that achieved a 100% sell-through rate, led by Francis Bacon’s 1972 Self-Portrait which sold for £16 million. Significant records were set for British masters, most notably Leon Kossoff, whose painting "Children’s Swimming Pool" shattered estimates to reach £5.2 million.
Sotheby’s London kicked off the spring auction season with a robust modern and contemporary art evening sale, totaling £131.7 million and achieving a rare 100% sell-through rate. Despite global political uncertainty, the auction saw aggressive bidding for British post-war masterpieces and Italian avant-garde works. The event also marked the debut of Sotheby’s new commission structure, which lowers fees for high-value lots to incentivize larger transactions.
Major auction houses in London are preparing for a series of high-profile sales in March, featuring significant works by Francis Bacon, René Magritte, and Osman Hamdi Bey. Highlights include a 1972 Bacon self-portrait gifted to his doctor following a studio injury, a rare Magritte "leaf-bird" painting appearing at auction for the first time in 25 years, and a monumental 19th-century work by Turkish artist Osman Hamdi Bey being sold by the Penn Museum.