Christie’s postwar and contemporary art day sale in London on Thursday totaled £12.2 million ($16.4 million), with over 80% of lots sold and 90% of those achieving prices within or above their presale estimates. Standout results included a 2020 painting by Somaya Critchlow selling for £57,150 (est. £15,000–£20,000), a small Etel Adnan painting going for £107,950 (est. £30,000–£50,000), and a Michelangelo Pistoletto mirror piece fetching £234,950—seven times its estimate. However, a Toyin Ojih Odutola painting and a Gerhard Richter gray painting failed to sell, reflecting a selective market.
This sale matters because it provides a more nuanced view of the current art market than high-profile evening auctions, revealing that while demand remains strong for fresh, emerging, and well-priced works, buyers are increasingly cautious with higher-estimated or more challenging pieces. The mixed results—strong performances for works from notable collections like Ole Faarup and Tiqui Atencio/Ago Demirdjian alongside failures for established names like Richter—signal a market that is both opportunity-rich and risk-averse, with implications for consignors and dealers navigating the 2025 auction season.