The auction New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art by Phillips, which included works by Damien Hirst and was held in London on December 3, 2025, achieved a result of £3,054,075, confirming the excellent moment for the contemporary art market.
With 110 lots sold out of 140 and a sale rate of 79% by lot and 80% by value, the session offered an effective combination of established names and new emerging voices, in line with the department’s philosophy.
The main results of the auction between Hirst and Venet
According to Louise Simpson, Head of New Now London, the auction reflected “the dynamic spirit of New Now,” with a top ten composed of blue-chip artists alongside emerging figures. Among the most significant results are Damien Hirst, Bernar Venet, but also recognized artists like Etel Adnan, Miriam Cahn, and Niki de Saint Phalle, all capable of greatly exceeding the initial estimates.
Damien Hirst leads the top ten of the Phillips auction
The most performing lot was Adenosine Monophosphate (2012) by Damien Hirst, sold for £264,450 against an estimate of £200,000–300,000. The result confirms the strong interest in the scientific-conceptual works of the British artist, once again a protagonist of the postmodern market.
The second place: Bernar Venet
Following, 10 Acute Unequal Angles (2018) by Bernar Venet, sold for £193,500, is solidly positioned in second place. The sculpture, typical of the artist’s mathematical research, reflected the expectations of the high end of his secondary market.
The female artists dominate the race
A key element of the session was the role of women artists, who recorded sales far beyond expectations.
Etel Adnan exceeds double the estimate
With Le poids du monde 2 (2016), Etel Adnan reached £108,360 against an estimate of £40,000–60,000. The result confirms the surge of interest in her pictorial production, already in strong bull in recent years.
Miriam Cahn beyond expectations
The work HÄNDE HOCH! 22.08.2017 + 05.04.2018 by Miriam Cahn was also sold for £103,200, far exceeding the initial estimate. The artist thus continues to strengthen her role in international auctions.
Christo returns to the top ten with two works
The auction highlighted the ongoing interest in the legacy of Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Two works have reached the top ten:
- Surrounded Islands (Project for Biscayne Bay) – £103,200
- Wrapped Reichstag (Project for Berlin) (1994) – £77,400
These results maintain the positive trend already observed in the dedicated section of the Phillips catalog in June, indicating a constant demand for the artist’s historical projects.
Photography and global contemporary art on the rise
Peter Beard and the power of the image
The photograph Gorongosa Lion by Peter Beard, created in 1955 and executed in 2007, reached £96,750, confirming the documentary and poetic value of his work related to African wildlife.
Mehdi Ghadyanloo and the market of Middle Eastern artists
The work Untitled (2023–2024) by Mehdi Ghadyanloo achieved £96,750, highlighting the growing interest in contemporary Iranian artists, often capable of combining surreal vision and social reflections.
Edgar Plans conquers the collectors
Among the surprises, Love is in the wall (2019) by Edgar Plans, sold for £90,300, confirms its strong presence among the new protagonists of contemporary pop art.
A significant debut: Luke Silva
One of the most interesting elements of the auction was the debut of Luke Silva. His work Coimbra Fire reached £33,540, over five times the minimum estimate. A result that indicates attention for new talents and the role of New Now in launching them on the market.
The ten main lots of the auction
“`html| Lot | Artist | Work | Price Realized |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Damien Hirst | Adenosine Monophosphate (2012) | £264.450 |
| 25 | Bernar Venet | 10 Acute Unequal Angles (2018) | £193.500 |
| 9 | Etel Adnan | Le poids du monde 2 (2016) | £108.360 |
| 24 | Miriam Cahn | HÄNDE HOCH! (2017–2018) | £103.200 |
| 26 | Christo | Surrounded Islands (1983) | £103.200 |
| 30 | Peter Beard | Gorongosa Lion | £96.750 |
| 36 | Mehdi Ghadyanloo | Untitled | £96.750 |
| 81 | Edgar Plans | Love is in the wall | £90.300 |
| 37 | Yinka Shonibare | Apollo (after Francavilla) (2022) | £83.850 |
| 27 | Christo | Wrapped Reichstag (1994) | £77.400 |
What does this Phillips auction tell us about the current market of Hirst and beyond?
The New Now December 2025 session confirms a stable, dynamic, and receptive contemporary art market to new proposals. The interest in female artists, the constant presence of Christo, and the brilliant debut of Luke Silva indicate a sector in evolution, capable of combining established values and new directions.
The question that arises is clear: how much will the segment dedicated to new talents and undervalued artists grow in 2026? The results of this auction show that collectors are ready to support fresh research and alternative perspectives, opening interesting scenarios for the next year.
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
