Sotheby's New York auctions total $284M, Italian artists dominate

In October 2020, Sotheby's New York conducted two significant auctions—Contemporary Art and Impressionist & Modern Art—broadcast live from London, attracting an audience of over one million viewers. The Contemporary Art auction garnered $143 million, with 95.1% of items sold, while the Impressionist & Modern Art auction totaled $141 million, achieving a 100% sell-through rate, bringing the overall total to $284 million. Noteworthy sales included three Alfa Romeo B.A.T. cars for $14.8 million, Carlo Mollino's Dining Table at $6.2 million, and Alberto Giacometti's Femme Leoni for $25.9 million. Among the unsold pieces were Mark Rothko's Untitled (Black on Maroon) and works by Brice Marden and Jasper Johns. Sotheby's emphasized the importance of adaptable auction schedules and private sales.