Sotheby's Hosts“Chez Sotheby's” Private Sale In Paris Apartment

(MENAFN- USA Art News) Sotheby's has introduced a new private selling exhibition,“Chez Sotheby's,” in a Paris apartment, aiming for a more intimate approach to engaging art buyers. This initiative follows a trend of auction houses adapting to the experience economy by offering curated, year-round events beyond traditional auction previews.

“Chez Sotheby's” opened this week in a Rue de Rivoli apartment, operating daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between October 19 and 24. While the auction house also unveiled its renovated headquarters on the Faubourg Saint-Honoré, this new exhibition focuses on creating a home-like environment where art, dining, and social connection converge.

The exhibition features approximately $150 million worth of art, including significant works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, and Gerhard Richter. During a preview, six works had already sold, with additional negotiations in progress. These early sales included François-Xavier Lalanne's Les Trois Oiseaux de Williamsburg, an iconic Flowers by Warhol, a painting by Wayne Thiebaud, a small Triple Dollar Sign by Warhol, and a work by Jonas Wood.

Visitors entering“Chez Sotheby's” are greeted by a trio of Fontana works, featuring three slashes on red, a central gold canvas with a single slash, and a rare fluorescent-red example. Across from these hangs Picasso's Deux nus couchés ( 1968 ), displayed alongside an old manuscript by Oscar Wilde. All displayed artworks are for sale, consigned by collectors from Europe and the U.S.

Beyond the art, the experiential aspect includes a restaurant designed by Tarek Shamma, with a menu by chef Erika Blu of Atelier Renata offering classic Italian dishes with French desserts. The drinks program is led by legendary bartender Colin Field, formerly of the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz Paris.

This concept is rooted in a long tradition of collaborations between the art and hospitality sectors, particularly in Paris. This includes the salons of figures like Marie-Laure de Noailles, Jacqueline de Ribes, and Charles de Beistegui, as well as Parisian institutions such as Le Palace and Le Mathis, which often hosted artists in exchange for their work. The project emerged from a collaboration between Sotheby's and Valerio Polimeno of _POLIMENO, whose expertise in hospitality and cultural programming shaped the entire experience.

David Rothschild, Sotheby's head of contemporary art private sales in the U.K. and global lead for private sales exhibitions, emphasized the project's focus on intimacy, surprise, and dialogue between art and architecture.“We're responding to growing demand for more bespoke ways to buy and sell art, particularly in the private market, while complementing, not replacing, the auction model,” Rothschild said. He noted that while some clients prefer the visibility of public auctions, others seek the discretion, flexibility, and tailored experience of private sales.“Auctions remain central to our business, but initiatives like Chez Sotheby's allow us to present exceptional works in thoughtful, experience-led environments that resonate with today's collectors.”

“Chez Sotheby's” aligns with a broader trend in luxury markets where clients increasingly value experiences as much as objects.“It creates an environment where collectors can spend time with the art, engage in conversation, and experience the works in a setting that feels personal and memorable,” Rothschild added.

This is not Sotheby's first venture into such formats. In March, the auction house presented the second iteration of“The Apartment” in London, an invitation-only private selling exhibition staged in a residential interior designed by British designer Rose Uniacke. That edition showcased approximately $40 million in works by artists including David Hockney, George Condo, Gerhard Richter, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, with about half reportedly selling during the show. The positive reception to both London editions of“The Apartment” encouraged Sotheby's to scale the concept for its Paris debut.

Source: Observer Arts

MENAFN19102026005694012507ID1111832883