Independent 20th Century, a New York art fair held September 4–7 at Casa Cipriani, reported that 74% of buyers were new clients of participating dealers, with 100 works sold—up from 87 in 2024. The highest sale was Ilya Kabakov's *Colourful Noise #2* for $650,000 at Galerie Brigitte Schenk, a 65% increase over last year's top sale. Nine of 30 exhibitors sold out their booths, and institutions acquired 18 works, compared to three in 2024. The fair also announced its 2026 edition will move to Sotheby's new headquarters in the Breuer building, marking a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a contemporary art fair and an auction house.
The results challenge the prevailing narrative of a softening art market, showing robust demand from new buyers and strong institutional interest. The fair's success in attracting younger collectors and connecting dealers with fresh clients suggests a potential market rebound, especially as Sotheby's recent $100 million white-glove sale of the Pauline Karpidas collection and upcoming major consignments at Christie's and Sotheby's further indicate sustained collector appetite for quality works.