Emerging from the cultural milieu of New York City in the 1980s, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Christopher Wool reinvented the energetic gestures of the urban zeitgeist in their iconic work.

The Downtown Avant-Garde

From Gerhard Richter to Barbara Kruger, these artists have pushed the boundaries of abstraction and image in ways that are wholly postmodern.

The Boundaries of Image

Fraught with chilling grandeur, Spider from 1996 is the ultimate embodiment of Louise Bourgeois’ singular contribution to the sculptural canon and history of Modern and Contemporary art.

Fraught with chilling grandeur, Spider from 1996 is the ultimate embodiment of Louise Bourgeois’ singular contribution to the sculptural canon and history of Modern and Contemporary art.

Mother of All

Between the pure luminescence of Dan Flavin to the architectonic canvases of Brice Marden, these key highlights epitomize the radical influence of the Minimalist movement.

Between the pure luminescence of Dan Flavin to the architectonic canvases of Brice Marden, these key highlights epitomize the radical influence of the Minimalist movement.

Vital Forms

Sunlit pools and candied jewels: from David Hockey to Wayne Thiebaud, the work of these California-inspired artists radiate with paradisal visions of Americana in the latter half of the twentieth century.

Sunlit pools and candied jewels: from David Hockey to Wayne Thiebaud, California-inspired artists radiate with paradisal visions of Americana in the latter half of the twentieth century.

California Calling

The timeless collection of Frances Wells Magee comes to auction this season, with major highlights by Helen Frankenthaler and Jasper Johns.

Works from the Collection of Frances Wells Magee

The Collector’s Eye

In the aftermath of World War II, artists like Yves Klein and Lucio Fontana reconsidered the very nature of space and form with radical bravado, while others like Gerhard Richter and Blinky Palermo invite contemplation and inquiry with deep expanses of abstract form.

In the aftermath of World War II, artists like Yves Klein and Lucio Fontana reconsidered the very nature of space and form with radical bravado, while others like Gerhard Richter and Blinky Palermo invited contemplation and inquiry with deep expanses of abstract form.

On the Threshold

The exquisitely detailed work of Vija Celmins, Howardena Pindell, and Eva Hesse showcase the artists at their best; laboriously executed, each composition invites close looking and overwhelms with meticulous marks.

The Artist’s Hand

New York

The Contemporary Evening Sale features artists and artworks that capture the seismic shifts that occurred in art in the latter half of the 20th Century. Beginning with Post-War abstraction in America and Europe, through to Color-Field painting, Minimalism and the Pop Art movement, and into the critical postmodern inquiries of the 1980s and 1990s, this radical new mode of art-making fundamentally altered the course of art history, laying the foundations for the art movements which would shape the next fifty years across the globe. Featuring extraordinary works from such artists as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louise Bourgeois, Gerhard Richter, Wayne Thiebaud, and more, the masterworks of the Contemporary Art Evening Sale call into focus the plurality of visions, identities, and artistic innovations that reshaped the trajectory of art history as we know it today.

VP | Head of Contemporary Marquee Auctions

Lucius Elliott

SVP | Head of Contemporary Art, Co-Head of Marquee Sales, Americas

David Galperin

AVP, Specialist, Contemporary & The Now Evening Auctions

Carly Gamson

Cataloguer, Contemporary & The Now Evening Auctions

Serena Hildebrandt

Carolyn Kim

Cataloguer, Contemporary &amp; The Now Evening Auctions

Devon Mifflin

Pre-Sale Experience Coordinator, Contemporary Art

Abbey Flamm

Meet our Specialists

Explore the top works, collections and stories of the season as they are announced, and join us for our in-person Highlights Exhibitions around the world which culminate in The New York Sales exhibition in New York in May.

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: +1 212 606 7000 
 
 <a class="Link" href="mailto:enquiries@sothebys.com" target="_blank">ENQUIRIES@SOTHEBYS.COM</a>

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The Contemporary Evening Sale features artists and artworks that capture the seismic shifts that occurred in art in the latter half of the 20th Century. Beginning with Post-War abstraction in America and Europe, through to Color-Field painting, Minimalism and the Pop Art movement, and into the critical postmodern inquiries of the 1980s and 1990s, the masterworks of the Contemporary Art Evening Sale call into focus the plurality of visions, identities, and artistic innovations that shaped the trajectory of art history as we know it today.

Contemporary Evening Auction