Beyond the Banana at New York’s Auctions

Plus, Untitled launches a new fair in Houston.

Auctioneer Oliver Barker sells Maurizio Cattelan's Comedian at Sotheby's. Courtesy of Sotheby's.

Anyone hoping for a so-called “Trump Bump” in New York’s marquee auctions last week was sorely disappointed. Overall, the evening auctions held at Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips brought in anywhere from 24 percent to 64 percent less than last year’s equivalent events. The sales were slimmed down in size and bidding was thin on several big lots. But there were some exceptions, including Maurizio Cattelan’s much-memed banana, which sold for $6.2 million, among others.

Plus, why Untitled art fair, a Miami mainstay, is plotting a new edition in Houston, Texas.

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