US Tariffs: You may be charged a tariff if you wish to import certain lots in this sale into the US. Please note that these tariffs do not apply to ‘informational materials’ which include unique goods created by an artist such as paintings, drawings, pastels, engravings, prints, lithographs, sculptures, books, manuscripts, photographs and films. Buyers are responsible for paying any applicable customs duties/charges, taxes, tariffs or other government charges relating to the import of a lot in accordance with section H2(b) of the Conditions of Sale.

20th / 21st Century: London Evening Sale

Sale Overview

Christie’s London hosts its 20th/21st Century Evening Sale on 5 March 2026, featuring major works by some of the most significant artists of the period.

A leading highlight of the sale is Henry Moore’s King and Queen from 1952-53. Presenting Moore at the height of his practice, this majestic sculpture projects power, peace, intimacy, and human presence. It is the only example of the sculpture to remain in private hands, having been purchased directly from the artist in the 1950s and remaining in the same private collection for the last 70 years.

Several works in the sale trace the evolution of abstraction through the twentieth-century, including Wassily Kandinsky’s Le rond rouge (1939), created while the artist was living in Paris before the Second World War, and Sonia Delaunay’s Rythme couleur (1946). Bridget Riley’s Arrest 4 (1965) captures her first steps towards colour, while Gerhard Richter’s masterful Abstraktes Bild (1991) offers a vivid hymn to red.

Richter’s abstract enquiries operated in tandem with his figurative practice. At the heart of the sale is Schober (Haybarn) (1984) – formerly in the collection of Emily and Jerry Spiegel – which stands among the largest and most beautiful of his 1980s landscapes. This luminous vision of the German countryside takes its place alongside works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet: both exquisite examples of plein air painting, capturing the fleeting play of light across the landscapes of Paris and L’Estaque.

Elsewhere, the sale celebrates portraiture. An outstanding selection of works by Lucian Freud includes tender depictions of his daughters Bella and Ib, as well as a poignant farewell to his beloved whippet Pluto. John Singer Sargent’s luminous portrait of a young girl in Study for ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ (1885-1886) is an important study for the artist’s famous painting now at the Tate, while Pablo Picasso offers a bold, gestural depiction of the artist and his model in Le peintre et son modèle (1964).

Featuring works by Edgar Degas, Emil Nolde and Marc Chagall, to paintings by Andy Warhol, Peter Doig and Cecily Brown, the sale offers a rich opportunity to explore Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary art in dialogue.

Explore our 20th and 21st Century Art auctions in London.

Auction times

05 Mar 05:30 PM (GMT) Lots 1-40

Our specialist’s selection

Brought to you by

Anna Touzin

Senior Specialist, Head of Evening Sale | Post-War & Contemporary Art

Anna Touzin is Co-Head of the Evening sale in the Post-War and Contemporary Department.

Previously Head of the Day sale where she consistently achieved market share for the category in London. Having joined the department in 2014, Anna has worked closely with across all auction channels as well as private sales, with a special focus on contemporary art. She has been instrumental in record prices for artists such as Karin Mamma Andersson.

Anna holds on BA in History of Art and German from University College London and an MSc in History of Art and Curating from the University of Edinburgh. Anna speaks English, French, Swedish and German fluently and works closely with Scandinavia to develop Christie’s presence there.

Michelle McMullan

Senior Specialist, Co-Head of Evening sale | Impressionist & Modern Art

Michelle McMullan is a Senior Specialist in the Impressionist and Modern Art team, London.

Michelle works closely with the international Day, Evening and Private Sales teams, responsible for appraising artworks and collections for each of these business channels. Michelle focuses on cultivating client relationships and advising clients on consignments and acquisitions, with a particular affinity for those new to collecting and to the auction world. Michelle led the Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale team for five years, delivering the highest grossing sale total in London for the category in 2018. In 2012, Michelle headed the record-breaking sale of Picasso Ceramics from the Madoura Pottery Collection and continues to set new benchmarks for this aspect of Picasso’s oeuvre. Michelle is also a key part of the dynamic team driving interest and results for the Surreal category.

Michelle joined Christie’s in 2009. Previously she worked in commercial industry while earning a B.A. in History of Art and Italian from University College London.