When Hedda Sterne Steals the Spotlight from Monet and Picasso at Sotheby’s
The art world loves a surprise, and this time it arrived in the form of Hedda Sterne’s Road #7, which set a new auction record for the Abstract Expressionist at Sotheby’s Modern evening sale. While big names like Monet and Picasso usually dominate the headlines, Sterne’s $650,000 sale opened the night with a quiet revolution, signaling a shift in what collectors value.
The auction itself was a study in contrasts: Mark Rothko’s vibrant Untitled (1968) soared past expectations, nearly doubling its estimate at $23.9 million, while Picasso’s Buste de Femme fell short, selling for $13.6 million—well below its projected range. Monet’s landscape, though the evening’s top lot, barely edged past its low estimate.
Records were broken, but the mood was mixed—a reminder that even in the world of blue-chip art, the unexpected can still take center stage.
#ArtAuctions #AbstractExpressionism #Sothebys #Culture
