Christie’s London Sales Spring 2025: A Testament to Art Market Strength

Christie’s 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale on March 5, 2025, achieved a total of £130,251,700 ($166,591,924 / €156,302,040), with an impressive 94% sell-through rate by lot and 97% by value (Christie’s, 2025). Notably, 43% of lots sold above their high estimates, reflecting strong demand for high-caliber works.

Tamara de Lempicka (1898-1980), Portrait du Docteur Boucard, 1928. Oil on canvas. 53⅞ x 30¾ in (137 x 78 cm). Sold for £6,635,000 on 5 March 2025 at Christie’s in London

Key Highlights

  • René Magritte, La reconnaissance infinie – £10,315,000 ($13,186,000), the evening’s top sale.
  • Michael Andrews, School IV: Barracuda under Skipjack Tuna – £6,060,000 ($7,757,000), a new auction record for the artist.
  • Tamara de Lempicka, Portrait du Docteur Boucard – £6,635,000 ($8,491,000), demonstrating sustained market interest.
  • Francis Bacon, Portrait of Man with Glasses III – £6,635,000 ($8,491,000), appearing at auction for the first time.
  • Amedeo Modigliani, Portrait de Lunia Czechowska – £6,290,000 ($8,055,000), a notable piece from the artist’s sought-after portrait series (Christie’s, 2025).
Emmi Whitehorse (b. 1957), Sea Forager II, 2024. Oil, pastel, graphite and chalk on paper laid on canvas. 59½ x 89½ in (151.5 x 227.5 cm). Sold for £302,400 on 5 March 2025 at Christie’s in London

The Art of the Surreal Evening Sale

This segment alone brought in £48,071,200 ($61,452,000), with a 96% sell-through rate by lot and 98% by value. Magritte’s La reconnaissance infinie stood out, underscoring his ongoing market strength (Christie’s, 2025).

Market Insights

Collectors from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (53%), the Americas (34%), and Asia-Pacific (13%) participated actively, demonstrating the global appeal of both modern and contemporary works (Christie’s, 2025). These results reaffirm the resilience of the fine art market, with strong investment interest in both established and emerging artists.

For collectors and investors, these sales reflect ongoing confidence in art as a valuable asset class, reinforcing its position in today’s global market.

Citations:
Christie’s. (2025). 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale Results – March 2025. Retrieved from Christie’s website.