Christie’s Paris has announced two major contemporary art auctions scheduled for late 2023, consisting of a live sale on December 6 and an online sale running from November 28 to December 8. The auctions feature over 200 lots with a combined global estimate of €8.5 million to €12.3 million, highlighted by two previously unseen paintings by Pierre Soulages and works by Jean Dubuffet and Georges Mathieu. A significant portion of the online sale is dedicated to "A Lifetime Collection," a prestigious private Parisian collection featuring works by David Hockney, Sol LeWitt, and Robert Combas.
These sales reflect the enduring strength of the French art market and the continued demand for Post-War and Contemporary masters. By featuring works that have remained in private hands for decades and pieces with significant exhibition histories—such as Dubuffet’s 1957 canvas—Christie’s is positioning Paris as a central hub for high-caliber European abstraction and international contemporary art. The inclusion of a dedicated private collection further underscores the importance of provenance and the "single-owner" narrative in driving collector interest.