gerhard richter painting in an auction selling contemporary art

Selling Contemporary Art with Sotheby's

Get Started with an Estimate

Get Started with an Estimate

Wonder how much your contemporary art might be worth and how to sell it? Simply follow the steps below and Sotheby's will recommend the best approach for selling your item.

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Contemporary Art Consigned with Sotheby's

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When is the best time to sell my contemporary art?
    Sotheby's offers contemporary art auctions in New York, Milan, Paris, and London in addition to selling exhibitions and private sales of contemporary paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and installations. With new records being established for artists in almost every auction, there has never been a better time to sell your contemporary art with Sotheby's. Once you submit your contemporary artwork's details online, our specialists can discuss which auction or private sale is the best selling option for your artwork.
  • Does Sotheby's sell contemporary art online?
    Absolutely. Today’s collectors are in search of modern art and contemporary art through live auctions, private sales and online through sothebys.com. When you submit your art online, our specialists will consider it for consignment in both live and online sales.
  • Can I sell artwork I have created through Sotheby's?
    As an auction house, Sotheby's only sells contemporary art that is part of the secondary market. All paintings and sculptures in our auctions have previously sold through galleries, commissions, art fairs, or other primary market sale venues. We suggest contacting a contemporary gallery if you are interested in selling your work.
  • What is Sotheby's fee to appraise my contemporary art?
    Sotheby's does not provide appraisals. Rather, our specialists review submissions and provide complimentary valuations for any contemporary art we believe we can sell at a live auction or online sale. If your painting is not an appropriate fit for a Sotheby's auction, we will do our best to recommend an alternate resource to sell your artwork.

More information on how to sell with Sotheby's

Sotheby’s is your best resource to buy, consign and sell contemporary art such as a painting or sculpture that fall under Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Postmodernism, Geometric Abstraction, Kinetic Art, Conceptual Art, Concrete and Neo-Concrete Art, Figurative Painting, Photography, Photo Realism, Performance Art, Film and Video are always in demand at Sotheby’s live and online auctions and private sales.