Artnet News rounds up the standout auction moments of 2025, highlighting both triumphs and disappointments. M.F. Husain's *Untitled (Gram Yatra)* (1954) smashed expectations at Christie's, selling for $13.8 million—more than double the artist's previous record and the first South Asian Modern work to exceed $10 million. In contrast, Piet Mondrian's *Composition with Large Red Plane, Bluish Gray, Yellow, Black and Blue* (1922) fell short of its $50 million estimate at Christie's, missing the artist's auction record, while Alberto Giacometti's *Grande tête mince* (1955) failed to sell at Sotheby's despite a $70 million asking price, underscoring market volatility.
These moments matter because they reveal a bifurcated art market in 2025: while top-tier works by globally recognized artists like Mondrian and Giacometti struggled to meet expectations, emerging categories such as South Asian modern art are surging into the global spotlight. The Husain sale signals a broader shift in collector and museum interest toward previously underrepresented regions, exemplified by a new museum dedicated to the artist opening in Doha. Meanwhile, the Riggio collection's mixed results and the Giacometti bust's failure highlight the risks of over-reliance on guarantees and trophy lots in a cautious market.