The auction house said the decision was in part due to the calendar being “particularly busy this year is for contemporary collectors with the Venice Biennale, followed by the New York auctions, documenta (in both Kassel and Athens) and of course Art Basel”.
Normally taking place in June, the Contemporary art sales series traditionally runs back-to-back with the Impressionist and Modern art auctions.
Christie’s Imps & Mods sales will now lead its summer offering in London with an evening sale taking place on June 27, while its Modern British & Irish Art evening sale is scheduled for June 26.
The Old Master sales will also take place as normal in July.
The company said its new London calendar mirrors the model of New York with two sales seasons for Contemporary art. Rivals Sotheby’s and Phillips have not indicated any plans to follow suit by rescheduling their sales in London.
Christie’s global president Jussi Pylkkanen said: “We are always looking to ensure that we offer collectors the very best material at the right moment and as the art world calendar is always evolving, we are leading the market by making changes to meet the needs of our global audience.
“The aim is to create two highly focused moments in the Post-War and Contemporary Art sales calendar that maximise London’s position at the crossroads of the world art market.”
