New York, 2 April 2025 - Phillips' spring live photographs auction in New York realized $3,538,284 (£2,720,721 / €3,261,999), with 179 of the 223 lots offered finding buyers for a sell-through rate of 80 percent by lot and 83 percent by value. The sale was led by Richard Avedon's Avedon/Paris, which sold for $215,900, and brought the spring live auction total for Phillips Photographs to $9.2 million, following the house's 100 percent sold auction of master prints by the American photographer William Eggleston.
Christopher Mahoney, Senior International Specialist, Photographs, described the result as further evidence of a deep and active market. "Today's auction offered further proof of the strength of the market for fine photographs," he said, adding that "it was thrilling to see bidding by collectors from all over the world, and to see them express such enthusiasm for classic and contemporary works alike." He noted that the sale followed on the heels of the Eggleston auction and turned next to Phillips' New Now auction on 10 April in London, which will feature the latest edition of ULTIMATE, a showcase of unique and rare-to-market photographic works.
The leading lots
Richard Avedon's Avedon/Paris (1978) anchored the sale, selling for $215,900 against an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. Two works tied for second place at $101,600: David Wojnarowicz's Untitled (Falling Buffalo) (1988), which sold well above its $15,000 to $25,000 estimate, and Robert Frank's Parade: Hoboken, New Jersey (1955), estimated at $60,000 to $80,000. Vik Muniz's Convergence: Number 10, after Jackson Pollock from his Pictures of Pigment series (2008) followed at $95,250, and Thomas Ruff's Substrat 01 (2001) realized $88,900.
Classic 20th-century photography also featured strongly. Edward Steichen's Calla Lily (circa 1921) brought $82,550 and Robert Adams's Berthoud, Colorado (1976) sold for $81,280. Hiroshi Sugimoto's Brush Impression 0916 (Water) (2023) achieved $69,850, while Irving Penn's Butcher, London (1950) and Wolfgang Tillmans's paper drop Oranienplatz, a (2017) each closed the top ten at $63,500.
New auction records
The sale set two new world auction records. Deborah Turbeville's Three Nudes (1986) sold for $8,890 against an estimate of $3,000 to $5,000, surpassing the artist's previous record of $6,930 set in 2023. Tyler Mitchell's Untitled (blue laundry line) (2019) realized $24,130 over an estimate of $12,000 to $18,000, well ahead of his previous record of $4,750, also set in 2023.
Top ten lots
| Lot | Artist and work | Estimate | Price achieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Richard Avedon, Avedon/Paris, 1978 | $150,000 to $200,000 | $215,900 |
| 119 | David Wojnarowicz, Untitled (Falling Buffalo), 1988 | $15,000 to $25,000 | $101,600 |
| 14 | Robert Frank, Parade: Hoboken, New Jersey, 1955 | $60,000 to $80,000 | $101,600 |
| 173 | Vik Muniz, Convergence: Number 10, after Jackson Pollock from Pictures of Pigment, 2008 | $30,000 to $50,000 | $95,250 |
| 168 | Thomas Ruff, Substrat 01, 2001 | $40,000 to $60,000 | $88,900 |
| 22 | Edward Steichen, Calla Lily, circa 1921 | $40,000 to $60,000 | $82,550 |
| 42 | Robert Adams, Berthoud, Colorado, 1976 | $30,000 to $50,000 | $81,280 |
| 144 | Hiroshi Sugimoto, Brush Impression 0916 (Water), 2023 | $30,000 to $50,000 | $69,850 |
| 48 | Irving Penn, Butcher, London, 1950 | $35,000 to $55,000 | $63,500 |
| 153 | Wolfgang Tillmans, paper drop Oranienplatz, a, 2017 | $30,000 to $50,000 | $63,500 |
Phillips offers dedicated expertise across Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewels, with auctions and exhibitions primarily held in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong.
Estimates do not include buyer's premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer's premium. Exchange rate on 2 April 2025: US$1 = £0.7730, €0.9240, HK$7.782.
(Press Release)
