NYC art auctions come all year long, but the main art auction season is May and November. Most Americana (antiques) and Old Master auctions are in January.
When in season, the auction houses become pop-up museums. Auction exhibitions are museum-quality and highly recommended. They make a really nice date. You can also review auction items online.
Auction season usually has a flow that follows art history:
Impressionist > Modern > Post War > Contemporary
The big action is in Contemporary art because that’s where the value is. The best items are usually sold in evening auctions. Some auctions are open to the public, some require an invitation or permission to attend.
NYC Art Auction Houses
- Christie’s New York is a global auction house that auctions all types of art.
- Sotheby’s New York is a global auction house that auctions all types of art.
NYC Art Auction News
November 2022
The David M. Solinger Collection of Post-War masters in Europe and New York was collected by the renowned art lawyer. It features Picasso, Miró, and Dubuffet. The art auction exhibition is on view at Sotheby’s New York in the Upper East Side, Friday, November 4-12, 2022. The auction is Monday, November 14, 2022 at 5:30pm. 🇫🇷 🇪🇸
Sotheby’s Modern Evening Auction of Impressionist, Modern, and Abstract Expressionist masters features Monet, Degas, Pissarro, Gauguin, Matisse, Picasso, Derain; and Varo, Carrington and Torres-García. The art auction exhibition is on view at Sotheby’s New York in the Upper East Side, Friday, November 4-14, 2022. The auction is Monday, November 14, 2022 at 6:30pm. 🇫🇷 🇲🇽 🇪🇸 🇺🇾
Sotheby’s Contemporary Evening Auction, an art auction of ground-breaking contemporary artists, features work by Alice Neel, Josef Albers, François-Xavier Lalanne, Basquiat, Alighiero Boetti, Philip Guston, and Louise Bourgeois who were either Latin or influenced by the Latin world. The art auction exhibition is at Sotheby’s New York in the Upper East Side, Friday, November 4-16, 2022. The auction is Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 7pm. 🇨🇦 🇨🇺 🇫🇷 🇭🇹 🇵🇷 🇲🇽 🇮🇹
Christie’s 21st Century Evening Sale art auction featuring contemporary artists such as Basquiat, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, and Toyin Ojih Odutola; is on view at Christie’s New York in Rockefeller Center from Saturday, November 12-17. The auction is Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 8pm. 🇫🇷 🇭🇹 🇳🇬 🇵🇷
Christie’s Post-War & Contemporary Art Day Sale art auction featuring masters of the period, is on view at Christie’s New York in Rockefeller Center Saturday, November 12-17, 2022. The auction is Friday, November 18, 2022 at 10am. 🇨🇴 🇫🇷 🇬🇭 🇮🇹 🇲🇽 🇪🇸
Christie’s Impressionist & Modern Works on Paper art auction featuring works by Picasso, Miró, and Degas; is on view at Christie’s New York in Rockefeller Center Saturday, November 12-18, 2022. The auction is Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 10am. 🇫🇷 🇪🇸
Christie’s Impressionist & Modern Art Day Sale art auction featuring paintings and sculptures by Picasso, Bonnard, Toulouse Lautrec, Sisley, and Rodin; is on view at Christie’s New York in Rockefeller Center Saturday, November 12-19, 2022. The auction is Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 2pm. 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇺🇾
October 2022
Visionary: The Paul G. Allen Collection Part I & Part II, the largest and most exceptional art auction in history, is on view at Christie’s New York in Rockefeller Center; Saturday, October 29 – November 8. The auction is Wednesday-Thursday, November 9-10, 2022. 🇦🇷 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇲🇽 🇷🇴 🇪🇸
Christie’s 20th Century Evening Sale art auction featuring art from the Impressionists of Paris to the Pop artists of New York City including Monet, Degas, Giacometti, Kahlo and Varo; is on view at Christie’s New York in Rockefeller Center from Saturday, November 12-17. The auction is Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:30pm. 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇲🇽
March 2022
Contemporary Edition, a sale of big name Prints and Multiples, goes on view at Christie’s in Rockefeller Center on Wed, Mar 2-8 for auction Wed, Mar 9 at 10am. christies.com 🇨🇺🇫🇷🇮🇱🇮🇹
Post-War to Present, including the sale of works by Bronx Caribbean artist Marcus Jansen to benefit the Bronx Museum of the Arts, is on view at Christie’s in Rockefeller Center on Wed, Mar 2-9, for auction Thu, Mar 10 at 10am & 2pm. christies.com
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Latin American Art, including a newly discovered Diego Rivera, goes on view at Christie’s in Rockefeller Center on Wed, Mar 2-10 for auction Fri, Mar 11 at 11am. christies.com
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February 2022
The Outsider Art auction at Christie’s in Rockefeller Center is Thu, Feb 3 at 10am. christies.com
January 2022
Americana Week (antiques) is mid-January. Masters Week is late-January.
Americana Week antique auctions are at Christie’s in Rockefeller Center, Jan 11 – Feb 2, 2022.
Americana Week antique auctions are at Sotheby’s in the Upper East Side, Jan 13-25, 2022.
Masters Week auctions are at Sotheby’s in the Upper East Side, Jan 18-29, 2022.
December 2021
After the November auctions, the NYC art world heads south to Art Basel Miami at the beginning of December.
November 2021
It’s Fall art auction season.
Christie’s November art auctions are Nov 9-18, 2021.
Sotheby’s November art auctions are Nov 14-23, 2021.
Phillips November art auctions are Nov 17-18, 2021
October 2021
Classic Week is the first week of October.
