PRESS RELEASE
BANKSY AND GERHARD RICHTER TO LEAD
MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART SALE
In London on 16 April 2026
Gerhard Richter, Green-Blue-Red, 1993
Estimate: £200,000–300,000
LONDON – 31 MARCH 2026 – Phillips is pleased to announce highlights from the upcoming Modern & Contemporary Art sale in London on 16 April 2026, anchored by significant works by Banksy and Gerhard Richter. The auction will also present notable works by Bernard Buffet, Andrew Cranston, Tracey Emin, Emily Kam Kngwarray, Cildo Meireles and Lygia Pape, alongside an exceptional cohort of offerings in ULTIMATE — Phillips’ platform devoted to exclusive works of art, with a particular emphasis on photography, with two exceptional self-portraits by Robert Mapplethorpe. The public preview opens at 30 Berkeley Square from 9 to 16 April.
Louise Simpson, Specialist, Head of Modern & Contemporary Art Sale, London and Associate Director, said “We are thrilled to unveil a compelling lineup for our Modern & Contemporary Art sale this spring in London. Leading the auction are standout works by Banksy and Gerhard Richter — artists whose cultural influence and market relevance continue to resonate with collectors worldwide. This season also marks an exciting iteration of ULTIMATE, which brings together extraordinary, one‑of‑a‑kind pieces available for sale only at Phillips. We look forward to welcoming collectors and enthusiasts to our preview from 9 April.”
Among the top lots is Banksy’s Picasso, executed in 2009, a rare sculptural work in carved marble on a wooden pedestal that exemplifies the artist’s subversive wit and dialogue with art history. Further highlights include an immersive conceptual installation by Cildo Meireles, capturing the artist’s subversive use of art to undermine the former Brazilian military’s dictatorship. Also featured is Book of Night and Day I, a seminal work by Lygia Pape, a pioneering Brazilian artist and central figure in the Neo-Concrete movement, whose experimental approach to structure and rhythm helped shape the emergence of contemporary art in Brazil.
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