Phillips’ May Sales of 20th Century & Contemporary Art Achieve $108.3 Million

Jean-Paul Engelen, President Americas, and Robert Manley, Deputy Chairman Worldwide Co-Heads of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, said, "Realizing a grand total of $108.3 million, our May Evening and Day Sales showcased the demand for important works of 20th Century and Contemporary Art across all levels – from a 12-minute bidding war for Noah Davis’ Untitled, which rocketed to $990,600– the second highest price for the artist at auction – to Banksy’s Banksquiat. Boy and Dog in Stop and Search selling to a telephone bidder for $9.7 million. Rare-to-market works that spanned the entirety of the 20th and 21st centuries were offered, with 80% of the works in our Evening Sale having never been sold at auction before. This approach is something that is distinctly Phillips’ own, and we are grateful for the hard work of our international team in building an auction that so brilliantly captures the breadth of the category. Bidders from 30 countries took part in the Evening Sale, with the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia all playing an important role. This international participation demonstrates the broad appeal of the artworks on offer and reinforces the strength of the global art market."