Artists making record sales again with $2.5B haul at auction for Jackson Pollock, Rothko, Banksy
The recent auction season in New York has seen record sales, totaling $2.5 billion, driven by wealthy collectors seeking iconic artworks. Major auction houses like Christie's and Sotheby's reported significant increases in sales compared to last year, with Christie’s alone achieving $1.5 billion. This surge is attributed to a rare influx of high-quality art from prominent estates, reflecting a broader trend of wealth concentration and competitive bidding in luxury markets.
- ▪Christie's reported $1.5 billion in sales, up 116% from last year.
- ▪Sotheby's achieved $908.6 million in sales, an 82% increase.
- ▪The auction season was fueled by a rare influx of art from notable estates.
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World News Artists making record sales again with $2.5B haul at auction for Jackson Pollock, Rothko, Banksy By Katya Kazakina Published May 25, 2026, 7:00 a.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google The stock market keeps hitting new heights and 288 new billionaires were minted last year, those with cash are eager to flash it. For the nouveau riche, the best way to make a statement about their wealth is still through art, leading to a $2.5 billion bumper sales season at the major New York auction houses — more than double last year’s tally when Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Phillips sold $1 billion during the same period.
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