New York, 20 May 2026 - Bonhams 20th & 21st Century Art Evening Sale concluded on May 20 in New York with recording-breaking results totaling $22 million, including white-glove results for A Lasting Impression: The Renoir Collection of Gabrielle Renard, which concluded earlier the same day. The evening sale took place at the auction house's new U.S. flagship at 111 West 57th Street, drawing a packed saleroom alongside strong participation via telephone and online bidding, attracting bidders from 18 countries across six continents.
The auction marked a milestone for Bonhams, delivering the department's strongest global result to date and serving as its inaugural Evening Sale in the new flagship saleroom, offering a dynamic, museum-quality setting ideally suited to showcasing major works of modern and contemporary art.
"Today's results mark a major achievement for Bonhams and the department globally, and we're delighted with the outcome," commented Ralph Taylor, Bonhams Global Head of 20th & 21st Century Art. "As our inaugural Evening Sale in our new U.S. headquarters, this achievement highlights the strength and steady growth of the department, while demonstrating how our new, museum-quality flagship location elevates what we're able to deliver at the highest-level season after season."
"This sale brought an exceptional range of fresh, rare‑to‑market works by a wide array of artists, drawing a remarkable crowd into our new space. The energy in the room was palpable, with the setting amplifying that excitement and sustaining momentum throughout the evening, culminating in spirited bidding across the room," added Andrew Huber, Bonhams Head of Department for 20th and 21st Century Art in New York.
The 20th & 21st Century Art Evening Sale presented 27 lots, achieving a 93% sell-through rate and a total of $17.8 million.
Leading the sale was Yoshitomo Nara's (b.1959) monumental ... Words Mean Nothing at All, which, after spirited bidding, fetched $5.02 million, setting a new auction record for a work on wood by the artist. Immense interest was also seen for Le miroir vivant, by René Magritte (1898 to 1967) which more than doubled its estimate when it sold for $2.06 million after competitive bidding.
Of note in the sale was the exceptionally rare-to-market La Muse endormie II, by Constantin Brancusi (1876 to 1957), which sold for $3.09 million. Additionally, Banksy's (b.1975) iconic Girl with Balloon, sold for $953,000.
Additional highlights in the sale included:
• Untitled, executed 2012-13, by Roni Horn (b. 1955), sold for $826,000 (estimate $500,000 to 700,000).
• Imagen perdida 35, executed in 2005, by Olga de Amaral (b.1932), sold for $787,900 (estimate: $300,000 to 500,000).
• Streaks of Oil, executed 1972 by Ed Ruscha (b.1937), sold for $635,500 (estimate: 300,000 to 500,000).
A Lasting Impression: The Renoir Collection of Gabrielle Renard, an exceptional online single-owner sale of 21 fresh-to-market, rarely seen works by leading French Impressionist Pierre‑Auguste Renoir (1841 to 1919), gifted directly to his muse Gabrielle Renard (1878 to 1959) preceded the 20th & 21st Century Art Evening Sale and achieved white-glove results, exceeding presale expectations, totaling $4.1 million.
Leading the collection was Fleurs, 1887, an iconic blooming floral still life from the artist, which achieved $559,300. Also performing strongly was the luminous portrait Gabrielle à la blouse blanche, painted in 1907, which sold for $381,500. Further standout results included Étude de roses, de têtes et de nus, painted circa 1905, which more than tripled its estimate when it realized $356,100; in addition to Paysage nuageux painted in 1885, which more than doubled its estimate, when it sold for $279,900.
Bonhams 20th & 21st Century Art Week sales will continue May 21 with Post-War & Contemporary Art and Impressionist & Modern Art.
(Press Release)
