Art

London’s 2025 Art Auctions Surge with Strong Sales and Market Optimism

The 2025 auction season opened with remarkable results in London, where Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips saw a 24% rise in average sale prices. With £255.5 million in total sales, Christie’s led the market, securing 61% of total earnings.

Por: Angela Leon Cervera
London art market
Modern & Contemporary Art. Photo: @phillipsauction

The world of fine art has set the tone for 2025 with a dynamic start. Last week, Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips launched the auction season for 20th and 21st-century art, featuring Impressionist, Modern, Post-War, and Contemporary masterpieces. With the previous year closing on a cautiously optimistic note, all eyes turned to London to gauge the market’s trajectory.

 

This edition saw nine auctions and a 10% increase in available lots compared to last October’s sales. Since June 2024, the volume of works presented at London’s auction houses has steadily risen, reinforcing a growing trend. Over four evening sales and five daytime events, nearly 730 lots went under the hammer, generating a total of £255,545,718. This marks a significant increase in both volume and value, with the average sale price rising 24% to £412,836.

Which Auction House Dominated the Market?

Christie’s led the charge with two evening sales and two daytime events, offering 48% of the total lots available and contributing to 61% of the week’s revenue. Sotheby’s, by contrast, presented a lower percentage, listing 31% of the lots and securing 28% of the total sales.

 

This reaffirms the long-standing hierarchy in the auction world. But is Sotheby’s losing ground, or is Phillips gaining traction in high-level sales? With 20% of the available lots, Phillips accounted for just 8% of the week’s total earnings, indicating a more selective approach to its offerings.

Top-Performing Lots: Who Took the Lead?

René Magritte once again dominated the high-end market. His 1933 painting La reconnaissance infinie led the week, fetching £10,315,000 at Christie’s Art of the Surreal sale—exceeding its high estimate.

 

Meanwhile, a notable shift toward contemporary art emerged with Yoshitomo Nara’s Cosmic Eyes (in the Milky Lake) (2005), which sold for £9,027,500, also surpassing expectations. The presence of female artists in the top ten was another highlight, with Tamara de Lempicka’s Portrait du Docteur Boucard securing third place at £6,635,000 and Lisa Brice’s work landing in eighth.

 

Christie’s continued its dominance, securing seven of the ten top-selling lots. Sotheby’s followed with the remaining three, reinforcing its secondary position in the market. Meanwhile, Phillips’ highest sale—Joan Mitchell’s Canada II—fetched £2,710,000, falling outside the top ten rankings.

Is Caution Still Influencing the Market?

Despite these strong results, fewer than 10% of the lots achieved prices above £1 million, signaling that both sellers and collectors remain cautious. With the major May auctions in New York on the horizon, it remains to be seen whether collectors will hold onto their masterpieces or seek alternative venues for sales.

 

The relatively low 15% buy-in rate underscores a robust sell-through rate, suggesting a recovering market where buyers are increasingly willing to engage, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

Key Insights from London’s 2025 Auction Results

  • What was the highest-selling artwork at the London auctions? René Magritte’s La reconnaissance infinie (1933) led the sales, fetching £10,315,000 at Christie’s.
  • How did the average sale price compare to previous auctions? The average sale price increased by 24%, reaching £412,836.
  • Which auction house performed best? Christie’s dominated the market, accounting for 61% of total sales and securing seven of the top ten lots.
  • Was there a notable trend in the types of artworks sold? There was a marked return to contemporary art, with strong results for Yoshitomo Nara, Lisa Brice, and Tamara de Lempicka.
  • What can we expect from the upcoming New York auctions? Collectors may either hold onto their masterpieces or opt for alternative sales channels. The strength of the London market suggests continued cautious optimism for May’s sales.

Stay ahead of the latest trends in fine art auctions. Follow our updates for in-depth analyses of upcoming sales in New York and beyond.

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