New York City's spring auction week generated approximately $2.1 billion in sales across Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips, more than doubling the $1 billion total from May 2024. Christie's led with a $1.3 billion haul, driven by the $630.8 million S.I. Newhouse collection and record prices for works by Jackson Pollock ($181.2 million) and Constantin Brancusi ($107.6 million). Sotheby's netted around $737 million, including a Rothko from the Robert Mnuchin collection, while Phillips rebounded with $115.2 million in a white-glove sale, its strongest New York spring result since 2022.
The results signal a market recovery after a downturn, but the gains are concentrated in trophy lots, with the ultra-contemporary sector still sluggish. The influx of new cross-category buyers and the spectacle of the Newhouse collection helped reignite excitement, though advisors caution that the market remains narrow and uneven. The week underscores the enduring dominance of blue-chip names and the importance of high-value estates in driving auction revenue.