Christie's 21st-century evening sale in New York on Wednesday night totaled $96.5 million, surpassing last year's $80.3 million, though the auction was characterized by caution, few fireworks, and a reduced number of lots. The headline event was Marlene Dumas's painting *Miss January* (1997) selling for $13.6 million with premium, setting a new auction record for a living female artist. The work, estimated at $12–18 million, was guaranteed and sold to a client bidding through Christie's deputy chairman Sara Friedlander; Miami collectors Don and Mera Rubell were the consignors. Other notable results included new records for Simone Leigh, Emma McIntyre, and Louis Fratino, while the top lot was Jean-Michel Basquiat's *Baby Boom* (1982) at $23.4 million. Four of 43 lots were withdrawn, and several works failed to sell, including an Ellsworth Kelly canvas with a $2 million low estimate.
This sale matters because it reflects a cautious but functioning art market where guarantees—both house and third-party—are essential to secure consignments. The new record for a living female artist, while celebrated, is tempered by inflation: Jenny Saville's 2018 record of $12.4 million would be $15.7 million today, meaning Dumas's price does not surpass it in real terms. The prevalence of guarantees (over half the lots) and the withdrawal of four lots signal that sellers and buyers remain risk-averse. The results also highlight the continued strength of blue-chip names like Basquiat and emerging stars like Fratino, while mid-range works face more scrutiny.