ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Auction Market Shows Mixed Signals in 2025

market-auction · 2026-05-14

The auction market is showing signs of recovery in 2025, but fragility remains. London auctions in March saw mid-double-digit percentage growth for Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips, though the previous year was extremely weak. High debts, aggressive commission models, and unresolved succession issues continue to threaten stability.

Key facts

  • London auctions in March 2025 showed mid-double-digit percentage growth for Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips.
  • The previous year (2024) was extremely weak for the auction market.
  • High debts, aggressive commission models, and unresolved succession issues persist.
  • The market is sending mixed signals in 2025.
  • The three major auction houses are Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips.

Entities

Institutions

  • Christie's
  • Sotheby's
  • Phillips

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom

Sources