Phillips’ Photography Auction smashes world records

In Phillips’ most recent Photography auction (Ultimate, and Ultimate Campaign), seven new World Auction Records were reached including Artist Records for Bruce Weber, Shoe Nichino and Seiji Kurata. The auctions took place on 18th May in London and realised £2,344,875 as a result of the sales. In a statement Phillips claimed

 “Achieving the second highest total for a Photographs sale at Phillips London, today’s auction is a testimony to the continued demand across the globe for exceptional works. ULTIMATE, a curated selection of works only available at Phillips, was 100% sold, featuring the top lot of the sale, John Baldessari’s ‘Transform (Lipstick)’, 1990. ULTIMATE established seven world auction records including Japanese artists Seiji Kurata and Sohei Nishino, who are both in the top ten. ULTIMATE CAMPAIGN, which champions advertising photography by today’s leading forces in fashion, was also 100% sold, and we are thrilled to have established a new world auction record for Bruce Weber. Henri Cartier-Bresson, Irving Penn and Richard Avedon all achieved notable prices, demonstrating the continued appeal of works by master 20th century photographers.”

The highest selling print in the auction was John Baldessari’s Transform (Lipstick) from 1990 which achieved £389,000.

For more information about this auction and an overview of the top ten lots sold click here