Seven-Figure Sales, Museum Acquisitions, and Expanded Audiences at TEFAF New York 2025

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May 14, 2025 New York

Screenshot 2025 05 14 at 10 39 22 — *(L) Photo by Jitske Nap; Courtesy of TEFAF. (R) Photo by Casey Kelbaugh; Courtesy of TEFAF.*

(New York, NY) May 14, 2025 – The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) presented the 11th edition of its signature New York fair at the Park Avenue Armory, May 9-13, 2025, with an invite-only preview on May 8. Overall visitorship grew 10% for the fair’s six-day run, and strong sales were noted across the more than 90 international exhibitors. In addition, the fair continues to be a magnet for museums and the larger art and design industry.

“TEFAF is proud of our crucial role in nurturing a vibrant global art community, fostering connections between collectors, institutions, exceptional works of art, and the world’s leading galleries and art dealers,” said Leanne Jagtiani, Director of TEFAF New York. “Besides facilitating robust sales across categories, the fair served as a marketplace for exchanging ideas and expertise.”

SALES OVERVIEW

The sales action was high in the historic rooms of the Park Avenue Armory, an exclusive feature TEFAF NY. The highlight of the fair for Ben Hunter (Stand 201) was the sale of Bridget Riley’s Reverse (1963) with an asking price of over $7 million. Ben Hunter also saw strong primary sales, with three works by Christopher Page selling with an asking price of more than $46,000.

Karma (Stand 211) most notably sold Milton Avery’s Morning Dunes (1958), a significant painting in the artist’s mature style, priced at $2 million, to a private collection. In addition, the gallery sold a recent painting by Reggie Burrows Hodges, priced at $325,000; an early painting by Abstract Expressionist Manoucher Yektai, priced at $300,000; Jeremy Frey's Tidal (2025), priced at $80,000; and a small sculpture by Thaddeus Mosley, priced at $65,000.

In the Armory’s main Drill Hall, David Zwirner (Stand 347) sold four sculptures priced between $320,000–2.8 million and six works on paper priced between $50,000–160,000 from its focused booth of works by Ruth Asawa. Stellan Holm Gallery (Stand 377) also sold a work by Andy Warhol priced around $1 million. Lucas Ratton (Stand 351) placedUntitled (The Color of a Yam), a work on paper by Jean-Michel Basquiat from 1985, as well as several works of African tribal art.

Museums were on the floor shopping, including a private institution that picked up the large centerpiece sculpture by Lee Bontecou from Marc Selwyn Fine Art/Ortuzar (Stand 104). The shared Marc Selwyn Fine Art/Ortuzar booth also sold the sculptor’s Untitled (1959) in the range of $2 million. Galerie Gisela Capitain (Stand 311) sold a stained glass work from 2023 to an American museum and a gouache on canvas by Lukas Quietzsch for more than $23,000 to an Asian museum.

"We were very pleased with the quality and atmosphere of TEFAF, which once again proved to be a highlight of the art fair calendar,” said Anne-Claudie Coric, Executive Director of TEMPLON (Stand 326). “We saw particularly strong interest in our artists, including Japanese sculptor Chiharu Shiota (works ranging from $70,000 to $100,000), whose thread sculptures draw considerable attention; American painter Will Cotton, fresh off his solo show opening in New York ($22,000–$175,000); and French abstract artist François Rouan ($150,000), known for his intricate braided canvases."

Across the aisle, Galerie Patrick Seguin (Stand 331) celebrated the architectural work of Jean Prouvé by displaying, for the first time, large elements from the Croismare School (1948). “We had a great fair; visitors responded with enthusiasm to the museum-quality display. There was significant interest from collectors—a Jean Prouvé house was sold on the first day, and several other demountable houses are currently reserved. We have now begun discussions with collectors’ architects to explore installation possibilities and logistical requirements,” commented Hugo Laquerbe, Director of Galerie Patrick Seguin.

Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert (Stand 314) sold two works to American collectors by Howard Hodgkin, Knitting Pattern (2015-2016) for an asking price of $395,000 and Living Room (1999-2006) for an asking price of $925,000. Tina Kim (Stand 358) sold four paintings, including Lee Ufan’s Response (2024) in the range of $750,000–950,000; Kim Tschang-Yeul’s Waterdrops(1981) in the range of $200,000–300,000; Ha Chong-Hyun’s Conjunction 18-82 (2018) in the range of $200,000–300,000; and Ha Chong-Hyun’s Conjunction 23-81 (2023) in the range of $300,000–400,000. Sales highlights at Lisson Gallery (Stand 342) included Sean Scully’s Wall Tappan Deep Red (2025) for $500,000; Dalton Paula’s Zacimba Gaba (2025) for $200,000; Kelly Akashi’s Be Me (A Thousand Flowers), 2021 for $50,000; and Olga de Amaral’s Tierra y fibra 3 (1988).

Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art (Stand 368) sold a work by Manolo Valdes for $380,000 and a work by Alberto Giacometti for $130,000. White Cube (Stand 355) sold Tracey Emin’s You please me (2022) for nearly $400,000, Julie Mehretu’s color aquatint etchings titled Six Bardos: Hymn (Behind the Sun) (2018) for $250,000, and Ed Ruscha’s acrylic on canvas Brave Men Study I (1995). Thaddaeus Ropac (Stand 345) sold its full booth of canvases by Daniel Richter, each of the three priced at over $470,000.

Almine Rech (Stand 322) confirmed numerous sales, including one lithograph by Pablo Picasso that was over-painted by the artist for between $500,000–550,000; one work by Ali Cherri for $150,000–170,000; one work by Dylan Solomon Kraus for $20,000–25,000; one work by Marie Laurencin for $300,000–350,000; one work by Ines Longevial for $40,000–50,000; works by Chloe Wise for $25,000–30,000 each; and works by Zio Ziegler for $55,000–70,000 each.

David Tunick (Stand 371) sold Paul Cézanne’s remarkable double-sided portrait drawing of the artist’s only son for six figures, titled Three Portraits of Paul and studies after Pedro de Moya and Tintoretto (recto) Portrait of Paul and Studies (verso), (c. 1879-1880).

Cardi (Stand 341) sold Josef Albers’s Alleged Symmetry (1944) for $490,000 to an American collector; Piero Manzoni’s Achrome (1962) for more than $330,000 to another American collector; Agostino Bonalumi’s Bianco (1989) for an asking price of $120,000; Davide Balliano’s UNTITLED_0305 (2024) and UNTITLED_0302 (2024) for an asking price of $35,000 each; and Mimmo Rotella’s Giallo-bianco-nero (1980) and Blank Demi Frame (1980-1981) for $55,000 each.

Sean Kelly (Stand 330) also reported the sales of a group of works, including Yves Klein’s La Victoire de Samothrace, for $17,500; a gelatin silver print of Klein’s memorable performance Leap Into the Void, October 27, for $35,000; Janaina Tschäpe’s oil stick on canvas Summer thoughts (2025), for $95,000; a pencil and charcoal on paper by Jannis Kounellis for $25,000; two Hugo McCloud oil paintings for $115,000 each; and Mariko Mori’s crystal-like sculpture Plasma Stone II(2017-2018), for $325,000.

Through a dynamic salon-style hanging, Gladstone Gallery (Stand 344) sold over 55 of George Condo’s drawings for $15,000–150,000 to American clients and international collectors visiting the fair. From its solo booth featuring Anne Imhof, Sprüth Magers (Stand 306) sold three pencil-on-paper works for between $11,000 and $33,000, as well as a bronze cast for over $280,000.

Osbourne Samuel (Stand 360) placed works in several American and Swiss private collections. Their sales included two bronzes by Henry Moore that sold within minutes of each other, as well as a work on paper by the artist titled "Women Winding Wool" (1948). Osbourne Samuel also sold Ben Nicholson’s "1940 (Painting)" (1940), a painting by Bridget Riley, and a large-scale sitting figure by Lynn Chadwick (1989). Skarstedt (Stand 304) also saw robust interest in its solo booth of works by Eric Fischl.

Galleria d'Arte Maggiore (g.a.m.) (Stand 369) sold a brass sculpture by Fausto Melotti titled "Trofeo di caccia II"(1961), while Tornabuoni Art (Stand 353) sold multiple works, including a metaphysical piazza by Giorgio De Chirico andan embroidery and ballpoint pen airplane work by Alighiero Boetti. Richard Saltoun (Stand 205) sold Peter Collingwood’s "Macrogauze M.84, No. 11" (1984) and Yvonne Pacanovsky Bobrowicz’s "Cosmic Series" (2000).

Leon Tovar (Stand 366) had a successful TEFAF NY, including the sale of four works Emma Reyes, Flor (1976), White Poppy (1979), Untitled (1972) and Untitled (1967). W&K/Wienerroither & Kohlbacher (Stand 308) sold Alfred Kubin’s drawing Dying Pope (1905-1906). In addition, Anna Weyant's presentation of new paintings created especially for the fair sold out at Gagosian (Stand 350).

David Aaron (Stand 212) sold The Hultmark Horus, a bronze sculpture, for nearly $700,000 to a private buyer. A private collector also acquired a set of 20 small works on paper by Jean Dubuffet from a series of vignettes the artist created for his daughter in 1983 from Waddington Custot (Stand 316). Waddington Custot also sold a watercolor painting by Bernard Boutet de Monvel, Fortieth street depuis le Radiator Building (1932), and a bronze work by Barry Flanagan. Axel Vervoordt (Stand 206) sold works by Shiro Tsujimura.

Design dealers also saw robust interest from TEFAF’s engaged audiences. Modernity (Stand 370) sold several pieces by Josef Frank, including a table lamp with an asking price of $10,500, a pair of floor lamps with an asking price of $14,000, and a dining table with an asking price of $90,000. Modernity also sold two Surrea Vases by Wilhelm Kåge, each with an asking price around $90,0000, two ceiling lamps by Harald Notini with an asking price of $39,000 each, and a ceiling lamp by Paavo Tynell with an asking price of $200,000. Friedman Benda (Stand 325) sold the Squid Chairwith Desk, a unique work made by Wendell Castle in 1966; Christopher Le Brun’s painting Forerunners (2022); and Ettore Sottsass’s ceramic Monumento di Merda Alle Patrie (1966). Galerie Chastel-Maréchal (Stand 318) sold a living room set (circa 1952) by Jean Royère to a private European collector and Guy De Rougemont’s Nuage (Cloud) coffee table (circa 1970) to an interior designer from Los Angeles.

High jewelers, including Boghossian (Stand 102) and Ana Khouri (Stand 373), also benefited from their presentation alongside modern and contemporary art. Didier Ltd (Stand 105) sold a high-carat gold pendant medallion decorated in sunken relief with a rampant bull produced by Pablo Picasso in collaboration with the artist’s dentist, Dr. Philippe Châtaignier, as well as a textured gold pendant adorned with a sunken relief red enamel bird by Georges Braque.

PROGRAMMING

TEFAF New York’s captivating programming included a curated selection of TEFAF Talks and TEFAF Meet the Experts. TEFAF Talks brings together museum and institutional leaders, gallerists, collectors, journalists, and other luminaries for conversations on the latest topics in art and design, ranging from philanthropy to next-generation collecting. Meet theExperts showcases the expertise of TEFAF’s dealers and artists through interactive discussions held in front of featured works.

Among the fair’s esteemed visitors, over 65 museum patrons and collector groups returned to TEFAF New York, including representatives from the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Pérez Art Museum Miami; MoMA Patrons & Young Patrons; Parrish Art Museum; Wallace Collection; New Museum; Jewish Museum; National Museum of African American History and Culture; Metropolitan Opera Club; The Cultivist; Cosmopolitan Club; and Sotheby’s Institute of Art.

In 2025, TEFAF New York launched new initiatives to engage the interior design community, recognising their important role as tastemakers and in influencing purchases. TEFAF also produced its second Insider’s Guide to Collecting, featuring ten works curated by fashion designer and model Margherita Missoni. The “secret map” was accessible via an invite-only link provided by exhibitors directly to emerging collectors.

The opening celebration on Thursday, May 8, included The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering TEFAF Opening Night Benefit, which raised $440,000 to support patient care, research, and education programs at Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Cancer Center.

The next TEFAF Maastricht will be held at the MECC Maastricht March 14–19, 2026, with invite-only preview days on March 12 and 13.

VETTING

TEFAF sets itself apart in the thoroughness of its vetting and dedication to upholding a standard of excellence. As one of the main pillars of TEFAF’s success and legacy, this creates the optimal environment for collectors to acquire the highest quality works of art. For more information on TEFAF’s rigorous vetting standards, visit TEFAF.com/about/vetting.

ABOUT TEFAF

TEFAF is a not-for-profit foundation that champions expertise, excellence, and diversity in the global art community. This is evidenced by the exhibitors selected for its two fairs, which occur annually in Maastricht and New York. TEFAF is an expert guide for private and institutional collectors, inspiring art lovers and buyers everywhere.

ABOUT TEFAF NEW YORK

TEFAF New York was founded in early 2016, initially as two annual art fairs in New York at the Park Avenue Armory. Today, TEFAF New York is one singular annual fair that encapsulates modern and contemporary art, jewelry, antiquities, and design, featuring around 90 leading exhibitors from around the globe. Tom Postma Design, celebrated for its work with leading museums, galleries, and art fairs, is responsible for the fair’s innovative design, which has reimagined the spectacular spaces at the historic Park Avenue Armory, giving them a lighter, contemporary look and feel.

ABOUT TEFAF MAASTRICHT

TEFAF Maastricht is widely regarded as the world’s premier fair for fine art, antiques, and design, covering 7,000 years of art history, from ancient to contemporary. Featuring over 270 prestigious dealers from some 22 countries, TEFAF Maastricht is a showcase for the finest artworks currently on the market. Alongside the traditional areas of Old Master paintings, antiques, and classical antiquities that cover approximately half of the fair, you can also find modern and contemporary art, photography, jewelry, 20th-century design, and works on paper.

ABOUT AXA XL

Global Lead Partner

AXA XL Insurance is the P&C (Property & Casualty) and specialty risk division of AXA, known for solving even the most complex risks. AXA XL offers traditional and innovative insurance solutions and services in over 200 countries and territories.

As part of its speciality risk offering, AXA XL protects a range of objects, including fine art, antiquities, antiques, jewelry, watches, classic cars, raw and polished gemstones, and bullion, from thousands of years to weeks old.

Over the past 50 years and well into the future, AXA XL, a leading global insurer of fine art and specie, has and will continue to redefine how it serves and services its collector, museum, corporate, gallery, conservator, and artist clients across Europe, the UK, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific region, with a sincere consideration for the way valuable objects are insured and cultural patrimony is protected.

ABOUT BANK OF AMERICA

Lead Partner of TEFAF New York

Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 58 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).

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PRESS CONTACTS

GLOBAL

Head of Communications

Magda Grigorian, [email protected]

PR and Communications Coordinator

Mirthe Sportel, [email protected]

BELGIUM / LUXEMBOURG

Charlotte De Bruijn | [email protected]

Alexis Gilson | [email protected]

FRANCE / MONACO / SWITZERLAND

Gaëlle de Bernède | [email protected]