Watch the Entire Record Breaking Leonard A. Lauder, Collector Evening Auction | NEW YORK SALES

On 18 November 2025, Sotheby’s inaugurated its new headquarters at the Breuer Building with a historic milestone: the once-in-a-generation Leonard A. Lauder Collection. Achieving a record-breaking $527.5 million in a white-glove sale of just 24 lots, the collection saw more than 25,000 visitors to its preview exhibitions. The evening was led by Gustav Klimt’s monumental Bildnis Elisabeth Lederer, which soared to $236.4 million after a 20-minute bidding battle — the most valuable work ever sold at Sotheby’s, the highest price ever achieved for a work of Modern Art, and the second-highest auction price in history.

Further highlights included Klimt’s Blumenwiese at $86 million, his final surviving landscape Waldabhang bei Unterach am Attersee at $68 million, Edvard Munch’s Sankthansnatt at $35.1 million, Agnes Martin’s The Garden at $17.6 million, Henri Matisse’s La Serpentine at $16.7 million, and Vincent van Gogh’s Le Semeur dans un champ de blé au soleil couchant at $11.2 million, setting a new auction record for a pen-and-ink drawing by the artist. This landmark evening marked an unforgettable opening for Sotheby’s new home at 945 Madison Avenue.

Still haven’t subscribed to Sotheby’s on YouTube? ►►https://www.youtube.com/sothebys/