Phillips' modern and contemporary evening sale in New York on Wednesday netted $67.3 million, with a 94% sell-through rate across 33 lots. Highlights included an untitled Joan Mitchell painting, a Francis Bacon diptych, and a juvenile triceratops skeleton, though two lots—a large gold piece and an oversized painting by Jadé Fadojumtimi—failed to sell. Separately, Bonhams announced it will move its US headquarters to 111 West 57th Street in February 2025, occupying a 42,000-square-foot space in the restored Steinway Hall, which will reopen as a public cultural venue. The article also covers declining DEI-related grants, a survey of William Nicholson, rising demand for female photographers, and the launch of Artsignal, an AI platform for art market intelligence.
The Phillips sale demonstrates the continued strength of the high-end art market, with the auction house achieving strong results despite fierce competition from Christie’s and Sotheby’s. Bonhams’ move to a landmark building on 57th Street signals its ambition to expand its US presence and attract top consignments, while the broader industry trends—such as DEI grant refusals, gender equity in photography pricing, and AI-driven market tools—reflect ongoing shifts in institutional priorities, market dynamics, and technological adoption within the art world.