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Seven Days in May

This May’s sales are dominated by big collections—Newhouse, Mnuchin, et al.—but a handful of competitive discretionary sales will ultimately reveal more about the state of the market and the competition between the houses. By Marion Maneker

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Sotheby's Art Auction
The Gund Rothko final price will almost certainly be affected by the sale of Mnuchin’s red Rothko at Sotheby’s, which may appeal to a broader range of plutocrats at a lower price point of $70 million. Photo: John Nacion/Getty Images
Marion Maneker
May 13, 2026

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This spring’s auctions come at a pivotal moment in the art market, and they pose a crucial question: Can we regain our mojo? A couple of different factors—including an early Memorial Day weekend and, possibly, the size of the Breuer Building—also seem to have conspired to create the slightly odd auction calendar this month. Sotheby’s will hold its contemporary art sales this Thursday and Friday instead of alternating days with Christie’s, as is customary. The remainder of the season’s lots at Sotheby’s, and all of the lots at Christie’s and Phillips, will be sold next week.

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