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Willem de Kooning, Untitled XXV (1977). Estimated in the region of $40 million. Courtesy Christie's.
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Willem de Kooning, Untitled XXV (1977). Estimated in the region of $40 million. Courtesy Christie's.
Gerhard Richter, Abstraktes Bild 809-2 (1994). Estimated at $18–$25 million. Courtesy Christie's.
Jean Dubuffet, Les Grandes Artères (1961). Estimated at $15–$20 million. Courtesy Christie's.
John Currin, Nice 'n Easy (1999). Estimated at $12–$18 million. Courtesy Christie's.
Robert Ryman, Connect (2002). Estimated at $10–$15 million. Courtesy Christie's.
Gerhard Richter, A.B., St. James (1988). Estimated at $20–$30 million. Courtesy Sotheby's.
Gerhard Richter, A.B., Still (1986). Courtesy Sotheby's.
Andy Warhol, Self-Portrait (Fright Wig) (1986). Estimated at $20–$30 million. Courtesy Sotheby's.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Brother's Sausage (1983). Estimated at $15–$20 million. Courtesy Sotheby's.
Hockney May 2018
David Hockney, Woldgate Woods, 24, 25 and 26 October, 2006 (2006). Courtesy Sotheby's.
Gerhard Richter, Jet Fighter (1963). Image courtesy of Phillips.

In a softening art market and amid global uncertainty over the outcome of today’s US presidential election, the New York auction houses are gearing up for their major sales, which take place next week. Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Phillips are highlighting works by market standbys like Gerhard Richter and Andy Warhol.

Christie’s has generally come out on top in the postwar and contemporary art category in recent years, and its November 15 auction is expected to tally in the region of $312 million, whereas Sotheby’s sale on November 17 may bring as much as $302.4 million, says the house. Phillips sale, taking place November 16, is estimated to go as high as $144 million. The same sales last year totaled $331.8 million at Christie’s, $294.9 million at Sotheby’s, and $66.9 million at Phillips.

All three houses are offering works by Richter, the German powerhouse (and one of the most collectible living artists), among their top lots. Phillips is selling a painting of a war plane for some $25—$35 million; Sotheby’s offers two abstract canvases, each tagged at up to $30 million (the top two priciest lots in the sale); and Christie’s has rolled out an abstraction tagged at up to $25 million.

Other major works on offer at Sotheby’s include a nearly 16-foot wide Basquiat, estimated to bring as much as $20 million, and a classic Warhol self-portrait in a fright wig, tagged at up to $30 million. Among the biggest at Christie’s are a 1977 Willem de Kooning, estimated in the region of $40 million.