This month's May auctions in New York are projected to generate between $1.8 billion and $2.6 billion across Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Phillips, and Bonhams. Major highlights include the estates of legendary dealers Marian Goodman and Robert Mnuchin, with top lots such as Gerhard Richter's *Kerze (Candle)* (est. $35m–$50m) at Christie's and Mark Rothko's *Brown and Blacks in Reds* (est. $70m–$100m) at Sotheby's. Additional offerings include works from the late S.I. Newhouse collection, featuring Jackson Pollock's *Number 7A* and Constantin Brâncuși's *Danaïde*, each estimated at $100m, as well as pieces from the collections of Agnes Gund and Marilyn Arison.
The scale of these sales signals a robust recovery for the art market after a three-year slump, with pre-sale estimates far exceeding last May's totals. The presence of blue-chip estates and record-breaking estimates underscores renewed collector confidence and the enduring appeal of trophy artworks. The outcome will be closely watched as a barometer for the broader art trade's health and momentum heading into the summer season.