New York – Bonhams 20th & 21st Century Art Evening Sale concluded with exceptional results, totalling $18.6 million including white-glove results for The Gene Hackman Collection. Both auctions were held on November 19 in a packed New York saleroom, with strong additional engagement via phone and online bidders, drawing an average of 7 bidders to lot, resulting in a 150% hammer to low average.

"We're absolutely thrilled with today's results, which mark Bonhams' strongest global auction to date – building on our top-performing October sale in London and showing how consistently we're delivering each season," commented Ralph Taylor, Bonhams Global Head of 20th & 21st Century Art Evening Sale. "It's a wonderful outcome for our Evening Sale and The Gene Hackman Collection, which underscores Bonhams' strength in presenting notable single-owner collections."

"We presented a really compelling sale with exciting opportunities for collectors – showcasing a wide range of artists, meaningful stories, and rare-to-market works. Engagement was remarkable throughout the evening, with strong participation across the room," said Andrew Huber, Bonhams Head of Department for 20th and 21st Century Art in New York.

The 20th & 21st Century Art Evening Sale presented 27 lots, achieving a 90% sell-through rate and total of $17 million.

Leading the sale was Wayne Thiebaud's (1920–2021) pivotal River Sides, which after spirited bidding fetched $2.36 million, more than doubling its estimate. Competitive bidding was also seen for the fresh-to-market, dreamscape, Je tourne la tête vers moi (I Turn My Head Toward Myself) by pioneering Surrealist Yves Tanguy (1900–1955), which achieved $1.78 million, more than doubling its estimate.

Another major highlight in the evening sale was David Hockney's (b.1937) rare, fresh-to-market, large-scale watercolour Courtyard, Palace of Carlos V. Alhambra, Granada (Second Version), which sold for $1.39 million. Immense interest was also seen for Californian artist Norman Zammit (1931–2007), known for his visionary approach to light, colour, and perception. His 1987 painting, Untitled, from a private Southern California collection, saw strong bidding when it surged above its high estimate by over eight-fold when it achieved $254,500, establishing a world record for the artist.

Additional standouts in the sale included:

• Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), Lila, 1928, sold for $737,100 (estimate: $300,000 – 500,000).

• Alice Neel (1901-1984), Fanya, 1930, sold for $635,500 (estimate: $400,000 – 600,000).

• Susan Rothenberg (1945-2020), Mares and Foals, 2002-2003, sold for $597,400 (estimate: $200,000 – 300,000).

• Gertrude Abercrombie (1909-1977), Small Phonograph, 1955, sold for $286,250 (estimate: $70,000 – 100,000).

The Gene Hackman Collection: A Life in Art, a dedicated Single-Owner sale of 13 works of art from the acclaimed and legendary late actor's fine art collection, achieved white-glove results and totalled $1.64 million.

Leading Hackman's collection was American modernist Milton Avery's (1885–1965) Figure on a Jetty, which sold for $508,500. Two works by Richard Diebenkorn (1922–1993) also performed well during the live sale. Green, the largest, but also thought to be Diebenkorn's most important print, of his prominent Ocean Park series, sold for $419,600, while High Green, Version II, the last print he created before his death in 1993, achieved $152,900, more than double its estimate. Outstanding results were also seen for Fritz Scholder's (Luiseño, 1937–2005) Dancer, which after competitive bidding achieved $152,900, more than 5x its high estimate.

Bonhams 20th & 21st Century Art Week sales will continue November 20 with Post-War & Contemporary Art and Impressionist & Modern Art.

Additionally, the remainder of Gene Hackman's collection, including personal artworks, annotated books, scripts, posters, and cinematic memorabilia, will be offered across two online sales: The Gene Hackman Collection: A Life in Art, Part II and Part III, with the first online sale running in New York from November 8–21, and the second in Los Angeles from November 25–December 4.