Christie’s 20th and 21st Century Art sale week took place from November 17 to 23, 2026, showcasing a diverse range of artworks through six live auctions and two online sales. The events were held at Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries in New York, a venue that also hosted a public exhibition from November 7 to 17. Visitors could view the artworks daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a later start at 1:00 p.m. on Sundays, all free of charge.
The auction week featured significant pieces by renowned artists across modern and contemporary art movements. Highlights included Wassily Kandinsky’s "Betonte Ecken" (1922–1923), Gustav Klimt’s "Litzlbergkeller" (1915–1916), and Pablo Picasso’s "La leçon de dessin" (1925). Sculptural works by Alberto Giacometti, Auguste Rodin, Jacques Lipchitz, and Jean (Hans) Arp were also part of the offerings.
In addition to the live auctions, two online sales extended the reach of the event. The Picasso Ceramics sale was open for bidding from November 2 to 23, while The Collection of Agnes Gund: Online Part I was available from November 9 to 23. These online components allowed collectors and enthusiasts worldwide to participate remotely.
The sale week was organized around six distinct collecting themes, including The Collection of Clive Davis, The Antonio Homem Sonnabend Collection, Herbert Lust: Collector, Scholar, Friend, The William I. Koch Collection, The Collection of Agnes Gund benefiting the Gund Art Foundation, and Heroes & Lovers: Property of a Distinguished Collector. The latter brought together modern masters like Picasso and Edouard Manet alongside Old Masters such as Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem and Tilman Riemenschneider.
To accommodate a global audience, Christie’s provided high-definition livestreams of the auctions on platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. Real-time updates and results were accessible via Christie’s website, enabling international collectors to engage with the sales in real time. Attendance at live auctions required tickets, with seating reserved for registered bidders.
This comprehensive approach combined physical and digital experiences, reflecting the evolving nature of the art market and its global connectivity. Christie’s November 2026 sale week offered a unique opportunity to explore and acquire pivotal works from the 20th and 21st centuries, underscoring the ongoing international interest in modern and contemporary art.
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