Sotheby’s London achieved a rare "white-glove" result during its spring modern and contemporary evening sale, with every lot finding a buyer. The auction totaled £131 million ($175 million), representing a 110 percent increase over the previous year's equivalent sale. High-profile successes included a record-breaking £5.2 million sale for Leon Kossoff’s "Children’s Swimming Pool" and strong performances for works by Andy Warhol and Josef Albers, largely driven by prestigious consignments like the Lewis Collection.
The result signals a significant shift in collector appetite toward established, blue-chip "canon" artists amidst global geopolitical uncertainty. While the market for younger "wet-paint" artists undergoes a period of reassessment, the success of this various-owner sale suggests that high-quality provenance and classic modern works remain resilient. The performance provided a boost of confidence for the London market, outperforming estimates despite broader economic and conflict-related anxieties.