Sotheby's

The #SothebysLondon Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction is now on YouTube. Watch the bidding battles from the full auction featuring works by Banksy, Picasso and more: https://bit.ly/4itZaY9

Last night’s #SothebysLondon Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction totaled £63 million. Yoshitomo Nara’s ‘Cosmic Eyes (in the Milky Lake)’ sparked a 10-minute bidding battle and led the sale at £9 million. The most exciting battle of the evening was over Lisa Brice’s ‘After Embah,’ which achieved £5.4 million, and set a new auction record for the artist. Tune in today, 5 March, at 12 PM EST / 5 PM GMT for the auction premiere on YouTube, hosted by Sotheby’s UK Head of Contemporary Art, Ottilie Windsor.

What’s the one that got away? Whether it’s a classic car, Old Master painting, jewelry, Impressionist art, 20th century design, or even wine or whisky (the list goes on!) – our Private Sales team can make the perfect match. David Schrader, Sotheby’s Global Chairman of Private Sales, fills us in. If you’re ready to find the one, get in touch with our team: https://bit.ly/3QkRBXI

A spectacular starlit amphitheatre was the stage Saturday night for the first ever auction dedicated to fine art and luxury in Saudi Arabia. The evening opened with a breathtaking performance by Saudi Arabia’s leading opera singer, Reemaz Oqbi, who delivered a powerful rendition of a piece from Bizet’s Carmen as well as ‘O Sole Mio’. The sale totaled over $17 million, attracting collectors from 45 countries. Almost a third of lots sold to buyers from within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In 19th-century Europe, the Paris Salon was the ultimate stage for artists seeking recognition. Its iconic floor-to-ceiling displays shaped “salon style” and drew crowds from critics to collectors. https://bit.ly/3Eiv6zP

Happy Lunar New Year! The snake is the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac, and characteristics of people born in this year include charm, mystery and a knack for transformation. From the classical mythology to contemporary art, the snake has been a source of fascination—and sometimes fear—for artists and storytellers the world over.

Welcoming the Year of the Snake with a look at how the Chinese zodiac's sixth animal has been represented throughout history and mythology: https://bit.ly/4hxZtk5

Congratulations and big thanks to everyone for making 2024 another enourmous year with sales surpassing $2B for the third consecutive year in the Luxury Division at Sotheby's!!

Today we brought our 280th year of business at @Sothebys – and my fifth as CEO – to a close when we reported our financial results. Against a market backdrop characterized by a myriad of uncertainties, we led the market once again with a solid $6 billion in consolidated sales. We hosted 466 auctions last year and saw bidding from 133 countries. Our Private Sales division delivered its second best year ever at $1.4bn of sales, our Sotheby’s Financial Services division saw record performance with $1.3bn of loans originated, and our Luxury division had its third consecutive year of over $2bn in sales – and now makes up 37% of our total sales. The challenge in the year was almost entirely on the supply side of our market. Looking at the data, what is clear is that demand remained strong at all price points: - We had more bidders per lot than ever before - Higher sell through rate than ever before - 85% - Across all lots, price to estimate ratio was 151% (up from 141% in 2023) We also grew our physical and digital audiences significantly, partly in connection with the new galleries we opened in Hong Kong and Paris last year. We added nearly a million followers on social media in our digital channels. Looking forward, we have grounds for optimism. With reduced uncertainty and strengthening economic sentiment, we have a strong pipeline for the first quarter of this year, and our 100+ auctions post the US election performed on average 7% better than the auctions in the preceding two months. Wherever you are in the world, we wish you a safe and prosperous 2025. And we look forward to seeing you at Sotheby’s: https://lnkd.in/gxNKHwt4

Join us on Wednesday, February 5th, from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM (EST) for an exclusive virtual information session tailored for students interested in a career in Operations! Explore the world of Sotheby’s, a global leader in fine art and luxury, and learn about our 2025 Associates Program in New York. This session will feature Sotheby’s Operations employees, sharing their career journeys and providing a firsthand perspective on life at Sotheby’s. Whether you’re interested in fine art, client strategy, or luxury goods, this is your opportunity to connect with industry professionals, gain insights into the art and auction world, and discover how you can launch your career with us. Don’t miss this exciting event—register now to reserve your spot! https://lnkd.in/e5utF5a6