ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Christie's Paris Sale Totals €50.9M with Strong Italian Art Performance

market-auction · 2026-04-26

Christie's Paris conducted its Avant-Garde(s) including Thinking Italian auction on October 18, generating €50.9 million, surpassing the projected range of €34.7-51.3 million. The auction showcased 53 lots, achieving a remarkable 98% sell-through rate, with 15 pieces fetching over €1 million. Highlights included Lucio Fontana's Concetto Spaziale, Attese (red) which sold for €3.67 million, Piero Manzoni's Achrome at €2.944 million, and Arnaldo Pomodoro's Sfera con sfera at €478,800. The highest sale was Zao Wou-Ki's 24.05.65 at €4.396 million, closely followed by Joan Mitchell's Untitled at €4.275 million. Additional notable sales featured works by Alberto Giacometti, Francis Picabia, and a Kota sculpture from Gabon that exceeded €2 million.

Key facts

  • Christie's Paris Avant-Garde(s) including Thinking Italian auction on October 18, 2024 totaled €50.9 million.
  • 53 lots were offered with a 98% sell-through rate; 15 works sold for over €1 million.
  • Top lot: Zao Wou-Ki's 24.05.65 at €4.396 million, a new French auction record.
  • Lucio Fontana's Concetto Spaziale, Attese (red) sold for €3.67 million.
  • Piero Manzoni's Achrome achieved €2.944 million, a new auction record in France.
  • Arnaldo Pomodoro's Sfera con sfera sold for €478,800, a new record in France.
  • Giuseppe Penone's Grafiti works set records for works on paper at €163,800 and €119,700.
  • A Gabonese Kota sculpture by the Maître de la Sébé sold for over €2 million, far above estimate.

Entities

Artists

  • Zao Wou-Ki
  • Joan Mitchell
  • Lucio Fontana
  • Piero Manzoni
  • Arnaldo Pomodoro
  • Giuseppe Penone
  • Alighiero Boetti
  • Alberto Giacometti
  • Francis Picabia
  • François-Xavier Lalanne
  • Victor Brauner
  • Gino Severini
  • Maître de la Sébé
  • Domenico Gnoli
  • Jean Fournier
  • Christopher Wool
  • Andrè Cadere
  • Georges Vantongerloo
  • Fernando Botero

Institutions

  • Christie's
  • Sotheby's
  • Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection
  • Centre Pompidou
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Paris
  • France
  • Avenue Matignon
  • London
  • Gabon

Sources