Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction of Chinese contemporary art brought in nearly $18 million on Wednesday afternoon, with aggressive bidding countering concerns that global economic uncertainties would weaken prices. More than 100 works from the Estella Collection, which Sotheby’s has called the largest and most important trove of Chinese contemporary art, were on the block. In [...]

Tonight, on the evening of Valentine’s Day, over $40 million was raised to fight AIDS in Africa in an historic auction — the most significant charity auction of Contemporary Art ever — organized by Bono, Damien Hirst, Sotheby’s, Gagosian Gallery and dozens of donating artists in the (RED) Auction. The proceeds will go the United [...]

With a subtle but unmissable flourish, Jussi Pylkkänen flicks his wrist fractionally upwards to signal that, unless someone offers him 24 million quid, he is going to bring the entertainment to an end. “Selling in the doorway at 23 million 500,” he announces, gesturing at the mysterious figure standing at the threshold who has made [...]

London — Reassurance. That’s what motivated so many dealers and collectors from around the world to flock here this week for the big February art auctions. Reassurance that, despite the shaky state of world financial markets, there are still plenty of people willing to spend millions of dollars to put Impressionist, Modern or contemporary art [...]

A mysterious three-part painting that is viewed as a Francis Bacon masterpiece sold for $46.1 million Wednesday night at a Christie’s auction here, countering expectations of a record price for his work.