As Women’s History Month draws to a close, so too does Sotheby’s London’s (Women) Artists auction, dedicated to women artists across the centuries.
There are just a few hours left to bid on lots in the second edition of the auction, which was first introduced in May 2021 to celebrate work by women artists across 400 years of art history.
Last year, 37% of the lots sold above their high estimates and numerous artist records were broken. Among the most successful lots was Paloma à la Guitare (1965), a blue-toned portrait of French painter Françoise Gilot’s daughter, one of two children she had with Pablo Picasso. It sold for £922,500, seven times its high £120,000 estimate. Cecily Brown’s Twice Told Tales II (1998) also surpassed its low estimate of £400,000 and realised £620,000.
A culmination of the best of Sotheby’s specialist departments, this year’s sale presents a tightly curated selection of works ranging from Surrealist luminaries such as Leonor Fini and Dorothea Tanning to Contemporary artists such as Jenny Holzer, Tracey Emin and Marina Abramovic among many others. The cross-category sale also includes design objects by Zaha Hadid and Martine Bedin.
Emphasising work by women artists has been a new area of focus for auction houses. Through (Women) Artists, Sotheby’s hopes to generate fresh appreciation for each work and artist included in the auction.
Lots begin closing at 2pm on 23 March. All available lots can be viewed here.