Artnet News reports on the November 2025 day sales in New York, following the evening sales that signaled a market comeback. Hot lots included Gertrude Abercrombie's "Message for Mercy" (1950), which sold for $1.2 million at Sotheby's, setting a new auction record for the artist. Other strong performers were Julia Jo's "Rhyme or Reason" (2022) at Christie's for $203,200 and Mary Abbott's "Forest of Dak" (1965) at Phillips for $167,700. Top flops included Jacques Lipschitz's "Tete" (conceived 1915), which sold for $152,400 against a $300,000–$400,000 estimate at Sotheby's, and Sterling Ruby's "SP44" (2008), which underperformed at Christie's.
These day sale results matter because they provide a granular view of the art market's health beyond headline-grabbing evening sales. The record for Abercrombie underscores a growing institutional and collector interest in overlooked female modernists, while the strong showing for emerging artist Julia Jo signals continued appetite for young talent. Conversely, the flops for established names like Lipschitz and Ruby suggest that even blue-chip works can struggle if estimates are too aggressive, highlighting a market that remains selective despite overall recovery.