Press | Phillips

PRESS RELEASE

FRANCIS BACON, JOAN MITCHELL, AND

CERA, THE TRICERATOPS LEAD PHILLIPS’

EVENING SALE OF MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART

Auction Realizes $67.3 Million, a 24% Increase from Last November,

While Setting a New Record for Firelei Báez

New York, 19 November 2025

Sale Total: $67,307,850 / £51,436,659 / €58,308,790

Lots Sold: 31 | Lots Offered: 33

Sold by Lot: 94% | Sold by Value: 97%

Robert Manley, Chairman, Modern & Contemporary Art, said, “The results of tonight’s Evening Sale are a testament to the fact that the Modern & Contemporary art market is alive and well. From Francis Bacon’s Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer, to Joan Mitchell’s monumental Untitled, to the first full juvenile Triceratops ever discovered, this sale was a true reflection of what collectors today are seeking – rare and historically important works. The depth of bidding we saw reflected just that. The auction kicked off with a bang as Ruth Asawa’s hanging form more-than-doubled its low estimate and the momentum continued as Bacon’s impressive diptych led the sale at $16 million after spirited bidding, while bidders competed for 7 minutes for Mark Tansey’s Revelever and Max Ernst’s Dans les rues d'Athènes nearly quadrupled its low estimate. It was also wonderful to see the excitement for Cera, the Triceratops, carry from our pre-sale exhibition into tonight’s auction. In all, 91% of the works sold within or above estimate and the enthusiasm was made especially clear by the fact that we had 27 times the number of early selling bids for this sale as we had last November, partly a result of our introduction of Priority Bidding. These results underscore the enduring appeal of blue-chip artists, as well as the remarkable resilience and stability of the market, which continues to attract global demand across categories. With strong participation from collectors worldwide and competitive bidding across Impressionist, Post-War, Contemporary, and Natural History offerings, tonight’s outcome reaffirms confidence in the long-term strength of this market.”

Top Ten Lots

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
10	Francis Bacon, Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer, 1967	$13,000,000 - 18,000,000	$16,015,000
18	Joan Mitchell, Untitled, 1957–1958	$10,000,000 - 15,000,000	$14,290,000
6	CERA - Juvenile Triceratops Skeleton The Most Complete Juvenile Triceratops Skeleton Ever Unearthed, Late Cretaceous, circa 66 million years ago	$2,500,000 - 3,500,000	$5,377,000
12	Mark Tansey, Revelever, 2012	$2,500,000 - 3,500,000	$4,645,000
9	Jean-Michel Basquiat, Exercise, 1984	$3,000,000 - 4,000,000	$3,852,000
17	Jackson Pollock, Untitled, circa 1947	$2,800,000 - 3,500,000	$3,486,000
20	Camille Pissarro, Le pré et la maison d'Éragny, femme jardinant, printemps, 1901	$1,200,000 - 1,800,000	$1,900,000
13	Max Ernst, Dans les rues d'Athènes, 1960	$400,000 - 600.000	$1,534,000
7	Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled, 1982	$800,000 - 1,200,000	$1,225,500
22	Robert Motherwell, A Sculptor's Picture, with Blue, 1958	$750,000 – 1,000,000	$1,225,500

New Auction Records

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
3	Firelei Báez, Daughter of Revolutions, 2014	$300,000 - 500,000	$645,000
	*previous record price: $567,000 set in 2024

Exchange Rate on 19 NOVEMBER 2025: US$1 = £0.7642, € 0.8663, HK$7.787

ABOUT PHILLIPS

Phillips: where the world’s curious and bold connect with the art, design, and luxury that inspires them. As a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century works, Phillips offers dedicated expertise in the areas of Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewels. Auctions and exhibitions are primarily held in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, with representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States, and Asia. Phillips offers a regular selection of live and online auctions, along with items available for immediate purchase. Phillips also offers a range of services and advice on all aspects of collecting, including private sales and assistance with appraisals, valuations, and financial planning.

Visit phillips.com for further information.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.

PRESS CONTACTS:

NEW YORK – Jaime Israni, Head of PR and Corporate Communications, Americas jisrani@phillips.com

Katie Zoni, PR Manager kzoni@phillips.com

PHILLIPS NEW YORK – 432 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022

PHILLIPS LONDON – 30 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6EX

PHILLIPS HONG KONG – G/F, WKCDA Tower, West Kowloon Cultural District, No. 8 Austin Road, West Kowloon

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