Press | Phillips

PRESS RELEASE

PHILLIPS’ PHOTOGRAPHS SALE ACHIEVES $5 MILLION

Sale led by Tina Modotti’s iconic Bandolier, Corn, Sickle

Sebastião Salgado: A Life’s Voyage Affirms the Lasting Cultural and Humanist Significance of the Artist’s Work

New York, 11 April 2026

Sale Total: $5,038,224 / £3,744,711 / €4,297,249

Lots Sold: 206 | Lots Offered: 266

Sold by Lot: 77% | Sold by Value: 82%

Tina Modotti

Bandolier, Corn, Sickle, 1927

Sold for $645,000

Sebastião Salgado

Image from Gold Mine (portfolio of 20 prints), 1986

Sold for $129,000

Vanessa Hallett, Deputy Chairwoman, Americas and Worldwide Head of Photographs, said, “Saturday’s Photographs sale demonstrated, once again, strong demand for rare and historically important works, with collectors responding enthusiastically to photographs of real distinction. Works by Wolfgang Tillmans, Diane Arbus, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Catherine Opie all achieved prices well beyond their presale expectations, while Tina Modotti’s Bandolier, Corn, Sickle led the auction, selling for more than six times its estimate. Sebastião Salgado: A Life’s Voyage brought focused attention to Salgado’s powerful body of work, including Iceberg Between Paulet Island and the South Shetland Islands and the Gold Mine portfolio, both of which ranked among the top ten lots of the sale, reaffirming collectors’ engagement with the strength, scope, and lasting impact of his vision.”

Top Ten Lots

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
16	Tina Modotti, Bandolier, Corn, Sickle, 1927	$100,000–150,000	$645,000
80	Wolfgang Tillmans, Freischwimmer 123, 2004	$150,000–250,000	$309,600
64	Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #49, 1979	$120,000–180,000	$154,800
52	William Eggleston, Untitled (Memphis), 1971	$100,000–150,000	$129,000
66	Bernd and Hilla Becher, Winding towers, (Fördertürme) France, Belgium, 1974-1980	$100,000–150,000	$129,000
142	Sebastião Salgado, Gold Mine, 1986	$100,000–150,000	$129,000
40	Irving Penn, Black and White Vogue Cover (Jean Patchett), New York, 1950	$70,000–90,000	$90,300
49	Diane Arbus, A family on their lawn one Sunday in Westchester, N. Y., 1968	$40,000–60,000	$77,400
82	Catherine Opie, Untitled #4, 2003	$40,000–60,000	$70,950
141	Sebastião Salgado, Iceberg Between Paulet Island and the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, 2005	$40,000–60,000	$64,500

New Auction Records

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
35	Nino Migliori, Il Tuffatore, 1951	$10,000–15,000	$24,510
	*previous record price: $18,000 set in 2015

**Lots 106, 224 and 246 were sold during the auction and are included in the sale results

Exchange Rate on 11 APRIL 2026: US$1 = £0.743011, €0.852863, HK$7.830382

As Phillips marks its 230th anniversary in 2026, the house celebrates more than two centuries at the forefront of the global market for Modern & Contemporary Art, Design, and Luxury. Founded in 1796 by the charismatic auctioneer Harry Phillips, the company has, since its earliest days, offered a distinct and forward-looking approach to sales and collecting. Over the centuries, Phillips has delivered record-breaking results and landmark offerings, while also pioneering new modes of collecting via the likes of Dropshop. Through its partnership with Bacs & Russo, Phillips continues to lead the industry in watches, setting new benchmarks for excellence, innovation, and connoisseurship. Today, Phillips remains true to the entrepreneurial spirit of its founder while redefining the role of a 21st century auction house.

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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13 April 2026

PHILLIPS’ PHOTOGRAPHS SALE ACHIEVES $5 MILLION