Christie's Marquee Week Running Total: $623.2 Million

The 42-lot sale realized $106.5 Million, 100% sold by lot, 100% sold by value, and 142% sold hammer and premium against low estimate. The sale was a rousing success, with vibrant participation and competitive bidding throughout, with clients from around the world engaged live in the saleroom, on the phones, and online via Christie’s LIVE. Combined with the successful results of Tuesday and Wednesday, tonight’s sale brought Christie’s New York Fall Marquee Week running total to $623.2 Million. 

The top lot of the 21st Century Evening Sale was an untitled portrait by Jean-Michel Basquiat, which realized $23 Million, setting a record for a work on paper for the iconic artist. The sale saw strong results for female artists from the outset, with the first lot, a painting by Firelei Baez, selling for a price of $567,000 and establishing a new record. Christie’s set records for many other female artists during the evening including: Ana Mendieta, Hilary Pecis, Sarah Sze, and Louise Bourgeois for a work on paper. Eleven artists in total achieved new artist records.  

Alex Rotter, Christie’s Chairman of 20th and 21st Century Art. commented, “Tonight was a great night for auction. The sale saw deep bidding for work from a diverse group of artists working in media from sculpture, to works on paper, to photographs. Christie’s set a record for a work on paper for Jean-Michel Basquiat at $23 million, and records for six women artists. It is a privilege to offer the best of the contemporary art market each spring and fall, and the success tonight affirmed our confidence in the category.”   

Main Image: Auctioneer Georgina Hilton sells the top lot of the evening, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled for $22,950,000