Artnet Auctions has launched "Contemporary Icons: Part II," a summer auction now live for bidding through August 20, 2025. The sale features over 100 lots from a single private collection, including works by blue-chip artists such as Rashid Johnson, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Shara Hughes, Marilyn Minter, Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, and Jean-Baptiste Bernadet. Highlights include Johnson's "Write me In" (est. $120,000–$180,000) and Adeniyi-Jones's "ESHU" (est. $60,000–$80,000). Head of post-war and contemporary art Johannes Vogt noted the rarity of an online auction offering so many lots from one cohesive collection, with most pieces acquired in the last 15 to 20 years.
This auction matters because it demonstrates the growing strength and credibility of online art auctions, particularly when they offer curated, blue-chip works from a single collection. The inclusion of rising stars like Tunji Adeniyi-Jones alongside established names like Basquiat and Johnson signals a market that values both historical significance and contemporary innovation. The sale also highlights the increasing role of digital platforms in the secondary market, making high-value art accessible to a broader range of collectors.