Christie's 21st century evening sale on Wednesday achieved $79 million ($96.5 million with fees), falling within revised estimates but below original projections and prior sale totals. The standout lot was Marlene Dumas's 1997 painting *Miss January*, which sold for $13.6 million with fees, setting a new auction record for any living female artist. The sale saw three of four records set for women artists, including Simone Leigh, Emma McIntyre, and Louis Fratino, though bidding was subdued overall with heavy reliance on third-party guarantees.
This record underscores the growing market momentum for works by female artists, following similar milestones at Christie's 20th century sale earlier in the week. Dumas's achievement surpasses Jenny Saville's previous record from 2018, signaling a shift in collector focus toward historically undervalued women artists. However, the sale's overall softness—with withdrawn lots and cautious bidding—reflects a cooling art market, as major auction houses navigate economic uncertainty and buyer hesitancy.