The sales this term feel muted in light of current world affairs but Sotheby’s and Phillip’s have tried to pull out all the stops for their sales in London this Summer. Christie’s will not have a major sale series this term but have chosen to overlap with the Frieze week rush in late October – however, they have a small sale ‘Postwar to Present’ which includes a Cecily Brown and a great large Anselm Keifer too. Sotheby’s boast several top works including a very rare, large Lempicka nude, entitled ‘La Belle Rafaëla’ a fabulous late Picasso and a remarkable Hammershoi interior (usually offered in the 19th Century sales). In the more contemporary stage of the evening sale the finest work is the large nude, ‘Juncture’, by the great Jenny Saville (formerly offered in NYC by Brett Gorvy) that deserves to get close to her world record of 9.5m GBP. Phillip’s have a gorgeous Basquiat, ‘MP, on offer with a couple of lower value gems such as a colourful Daniel Richter, ‘Klavierstundenträume’, and a Hockney pool drawing, ‘Water’, offered at a very conservative estimate of 60,000-80,000 GBP.
The sales and their links are as follows:
Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Art Auction, 24th June 2025 @ 1800 BST
Sotheby’s Modern Day Auction, 25th June 2025 @ 1200 BST
Sotheby’s Contemporary Day Auction, 25th June 2025 @ 1400 BST
Sotheby’s Modern British & Irish Art Sale, 26th June @ 1300 BST
Christie’s Post-War to Present, 26th June @ 1300 BST
Phillip’s Modern & Contemporary Art, Evening and Day Sale, 26th June @ 1500 BST
If we can help please do reach out and please do ensure you get advice whenever bidding or buying hight value works of art!