GCR

GCR

Viewing north america salesView all Phillips sales

Auction House Profile

Phillips

International · Founded 1796 · London, United Kingdom

Phillips is an international auction house founded in London in 1796, specialising in Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches and Jewels.

Phillips logo
Phillips auction house
Phillips — auction house profile image.

Auction Highlight

Jean-Michel Basquiat — Untitled
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled, 1982. Acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 239.4 × 501 cm. Sold by Phillips for US$85 million.

Jean-Michel Basquiat — Untitled

Jean-Michel Basquiat's Untitled, executed in 1982, is one of the artist's most ambitious and important paintings. Created during the breakthrough year that established Basquiat as a major international figure, the monumental canvas combines street-derived imagery, raw painterly energy and a powerful self-referential figure. Offered by Phillips from the collection of Yusaku Maezawa, the work sold for US$85 million and stands as a defining example of Phillips' strength in the global market for Modern and Contemporary Art.

View the Phillips lot

Fine art sales

7

Specialist sales

0

Founded

1796

Last sync

05 Sept, 02:44 am

Overview

Founded in Westminster, London, in 1796 by Harry Phillips, Phillips is one of the world's longest-established auction houses. Its early reputation was shaped by prominent estate and royal sales, as well as Harry Phillips' theatrical evening receptions before major auctions. Today, Phillips focuses primarily on art and collecting categories from the 20th and 21st centuries. The auction house conducts sales and exhibitions in London, New York, Geneva and Hong Kong, supported by representative offices across Europe, the Americas and Asia. Phillips also operates private sales, valuation and advisory services, and has developed digital initiatives including Dropshop.

Specialties & Departments

Specialties

Modern ArtContemporary ArtPost-War Art20th Century Art21st Century ArtDesignPhotographsEditionsPrintsWatchesJewelsPrivate Sales

Departments

Modern & Contemporary ArtDesignPhotographsEditionsWatchesJewelsPrivate SalesValuationsAdvisory Services

Recent Featured Lot

From Every Corner

16 July 2026

Werner Bronkhorst

From Every Corner

Estimate: USD100,000–150,000

Modern & Contemporary Art · Lot 48

Auction Calendar

north america
View all Phillips sales

GCR continuously monitors public auction calendars published by leading auction houses around the world. Upcoming fine art and collectable sales are presented first, followed by other public auctions conducted by the same institution.

Upcoming Fine Art Auctions

26 Sept 2026

Modern & Contemporary Art

upcoming · USD · New York

08 Oct 2026

Photographs

upcoming · USD · New York

22 Oct 2026

MODERNISM: Editions & Works on Paper

upcoming · USD · New York

22 Oct 2026

Editions & Works on Paper

upcoming · USD · New York

18 Nov 2026

Modern & Contemporary Art: Evening Sale

upcoming · USD · New York

20 Nov 2026

Recent Market Activity

Recently Closed Sales

Recently closed art auctions from Phillips. When available, GCR displays either the official sale cover or a representative highlighted lot.

Browse recent results →

Saleroom

Phillips saleroom
Phillips saleroom or auction interior.

Locations

London

United Kingdom

Historic headquarters and principal European saleroom

New York

United States

Americas headquarters and major auction galleries

Geneva

Switzerland

Important centre for international watch and jewellery auctions

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Asia headquarters and purpose-built auction space in West Kowloon

Timeline

1796

Harry Phillips establishes the auction house in Westminster, London.

1798

Phillips handles the sale of paintings from the collection of Marie Antoinette, helping establish the house internationally.

1836

Phillips holds a sale inside Buckingham Palace, a distinction the auction house says remains unique in its history.

1999

Bernard Arnault of LVMH acquires Phillips and subsequently brings the business together with art dealers Simon de Pury and Daniela Luxembourg.

2002

Simon de Pury acquires a majority stake in the company.

2008

The owners of luxury retail group Mercury acquire a majority stake in Phillips.

2012

Mercury completes its acquisition of the business.

2014

Phillips opens its London headquarters at 30 Berkeley Square and launches Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo for collectors watches.

2015

Phillips holds its first auctions in Hong Kong as part of its expansion in Asia.

2021

Phillips relocates its New York headquarters to galleries at 432 Park Avenue.

2023

Phillips opens its purpose-built Asia headquarters and auction space in West Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Market Notes

Sale formats

Live auctionsOnline auctionsPrivate salesSelling exhibitionsLimited-edition releasesAppraisals and valuations
Phillips was founded in Westminster, London, in 1796 by Harry Phillips.
Phillips says it is the only auction house to have held a sale inside Buckingham Palace.
The auction house is primarily focused on collecting categories from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Phillips holds major auctions and exhibitions in London, New York, Geneva and Hong Kong.
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo has established the house as a major international force in collectors watches.
In May 2022, Phillips New York achieved a then-record auction total of US$224.9 million, with all 36 lots sold.
Jean-Michel Basquiat's Untitled (1982) sold for US$85 million at Phillips New York in 2022, becoming the highest-achieving lot in the company's history.
The company operates Dropshop, a digital platform for limited-edition releases created in partnership with artists, collaborators and brands.

References

Explore Other Major Auction Houses

Discover other leading auction houses monitored by GCR.

Explore the Art Market

Continue exploring auction houses, upcoming sales and the global art market through GCR.