Richter works from gallerist Marian Goodman and Donald Judd pieces lead Christie's New York auctions

Christie's New York spring sales opened on May 20, 2026, with two major collections: the minimalist art collection of Henry S. McNeil Jr. and works by Gerhard Richter from the collection of legendary gallerist Marian Goodman. The 42-lot session achieved $162.7 million, with 98% sold by lot. The 21st Century Evening Sale alone reached $136.8 million, a 42% increase over May 2025 and Christie's highest result for the category in five years. Top lots included Donald Judd's "Untitled" (1969) at $12.8 million—a new auction record for a Judd stack—and Richard Artschwager's "Two-Part Invention" (1967) which soared to $635,000 from an estimate of $60,000–80,000. The Goodman collection of eight Richter works, all guaranteed, generated $78.8 million, exceeding expectations.

This sale matters because it signals continued strength in the high-end art market, with Christie's New York total exceeding $1.3 billion across the spring season—nearly double last May's turnover. The McNeil collection, the most important private collection of Minimal Art, tested whether younger generations of collectors still find relevance in these historically significant works. The strong results, including a new record for a Judd stack, suggest sustained demand for blue-chip Minimalist and contemporary art, even as the overall session fell within pre-sale estimates rather than exceeding them. The sale also highlights the enduring market power of artists like Gerhard Richter and the legacy of influential dealers like Marian Goodman.