New York, 19 May 2026 - Phillips' Evening Sale of Modern & Contemporary Art in New York realized $115,216,700 (£86,001,772 / €99,255,725), more than doubling the sale total from the previous year for a 122 percent increase. The white glove auction sold 100 percent by lot and 100 percent by value, with all 41 lots offered finding buyers. New artist records were set for Pat Passlof, P.S. Krøyer, and Joseph Yaeger, alongside a new world record for any two-dimensional work by Lee Bontecou.
Robert Manley, Chairman and Worldwide Head, Modern and Contemporary Art, said the result confirmed that "the market is alive and well," describing an Evening Sale that "so wonderfully captures the strength, enthusiasm, and depth of the collecting community at every level." He noted that the sale "kicked off with a bang, as the first three lots of the auction soared past their high estimates," with Salman Toor, Cecily Brown, and Lee Bontecou commanding strong prices. Bontecou's "extraordinary and exceedingly rare" Untitled set a new record for any two-dimensional work by the artist after nearly five minutes of bidding. Manley added that records for Pat Passlof in her Evening Sale debut, as well as P.S. Krøyer and Joseph Yaeger, together with works by Andy Warhol, Claude Monet, and Helen Frankenthaler, made clear that "the demand for important works spanning the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries endures."
The leading lots
Andy Warhol's Sixteen Jackies (1964) led the evening, selling for $16,225,000 against an estimate of $15,000,000 to $20,000,000. It was followed by Claude Monet's La Route de Vétheuil, effet de neige (1879), which realized $9,920,000, and Jackson Pollock's Untitled (circa 1948), which brought $9,168,000. Gerhard Richter's Besen (1984) achieved $8,070,000, while Joan Mitchell's Plain (1989) reached $6,850,000. Warhol featured prominently across the top ten, with 4 Colored Marilyns (Reversal Series) (1979 to 1986) selling for $5,630,000 and Self-Portrait (1966) for $4,776,000. Lee Bontecou's record-setting Untitled (1985 to 2001) closed at $4,227,000, ahead of Agnes Martin's Untitled #1 (1985) at $4,044,000 and Vilhelm Hammershøi's Interior with Windsor Chair at Strandgade 25 (1913) at $3,495,000.
New artist records
Lee Bontecou's Untitled (1985 to 2001) set a new world record for a two-dimensional work by the artist, selling for $4,227,000 over an estimate of $1,200,000 to $1,800,000. Pat Passlof's Fortune (1960) brought $580,500 against an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000, surpassing her previous record of $537,600 set in 2026. P.S. Krøyer's Self-Portrait, Sitting by His Easel at Skagen Beach (1902) realized $1,290,000, well above its $300,000 to $500,000 estimate and the artist's previous record of $1,098,690.15 set in 2000. Joseph Yaeger's There is a light and it always goes out (2021) achieved $477,300 over an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000, beating his previous record of $320,000 set in 2026.
Important provenance
Collectors also vied for works of distinguished provenance. The enthusiasm for The Collection of Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr. carried from Phillips' London auctions into the saleroom, with the works achieving a combined $8.4 million. From that collection, Vilhelm Hammershøi's Courtyard Interior at Strandgade 30 and Study of standing woman, seen from behind were both acquired by prominent institutions, underscoring what Phillips described as Ambassador Loeb's vision and Hammershøi's lasting impact. Alongside the Loeb Collection, works from the Estate of Tina Hills included Joan Mitchell's Plain, which achieved over $6.8 million. Phillips also pointed to the reception for Priority Bidding, its industry-first initiative to reward early engagement, noting that the Evening Sale saw a nearly six-fold increase in early selling bids year over year.
Top ten lots
| Lot | Artist and work | Estimate | Price achieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Andy Warhol, Sixteen Jackies, 1964 | $15,000,000 to $20,000,000 | $16,225,000 |
| 4 | Claude Monet, La Route de Vétheuil, effet de neige, 1879 | $7,000,000 to $10,000,000 | $9,920,000 |
| 30 | Jackson Pollock, Untitled, circa 1948 | $7,000,000 to $10,000,000 | $9,168,000 |
| 12 | Gerhard Richter, Besen, 1984 | $6,500,000 to $8,500,000 | $8,070,000 |
| 6 | Joan Mitchell, Plain, 1989 | $5,000,000 to $7,000,000 | $6,850,000 |
| 22 | Andy Warhol, 4 Colored Marilyns (Reversal Series), 1979 to 1986 | $4,000,000 to $6,000,000 | $5,630,000 |
| 17 | Andy Warhol, Self-Portrait, 1966 | $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 | $4,776,000 |
| 3 | Lee Bontecou, Untitled, 1985 to 2001 | $1,200,000 to $1,800,000 | $4,227,000 |
| 14 | Agnes Martin, Untitled #1, 1985 | $3,500,000 to $4,500,000 | $4,044,000 |
| 9 | Vilhelm Hammershøi, Interior with Windsor Chair at Strandgade 25, 1913 | $2,500,000 to $3,500,000 | $3,495,000 |
The sale arrives as Phillips marks its 230th anniversary in 2026, celebrating more than two centuries at the forefront of the global market for Modern & Contemporary Art, Design, and Luxury. Founded in 1796 by the auctioneer Harry Phillips, the house has delivered record-breaking results and landmark offerings across its history, and today holds its principal auctions in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong.
Estimates do not include the buyer's premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer's premium. Exchange rate on 19 May 2026: US$1 = £0.7462, €0.8614, HK$7.833.
(Press Release)
