Sotheby’s New York is inviting first-time buyers to explore art at auction with its upcoming Open House, writes Katie Armstrong

David Hockney’s “Terrace Hollywood Hills House with Banana Tree,” 1982 at the Contemporary Day Auction on 16 May 2025 at Sotheby’s New York. Photograph: Sotheby’s

Buying contemporary art and collectables at auction— especially at the world’s most prestigious auction houses—can seem an intimidating process to the uninitiated. But Sotheby’s New York’s upcoming Open House weekend aims to demystify the auction experience through an array of events targeted at new collectors. 

“It’s a true open house,” says Courtney Kremers, head of private sales, Americas, and senior specialist for post-war and contemporary art at Sotheby’s New York. “A way to open our doors to new buyers or those who have maybe bought one thing and are curious about buying their second, or want to learn about collecting in a different category.”

Kremers knows a thing or two about bringing new collectors into Sotheby’s, having developed its “Contemporary Curated” concept in 2013 to connect buyers with fresh and exciting modern works. 

Works on show at Contemporary Curated 2024 at Sotheby’s New York. Photograph: Sotheby’s

Contemporary art in particular—broadly considered to include work created from the 1970s to the present day—can be an engaging starting point for new collectors. Pieces capture the current world and its different perspectives using a diverse range of mediums and styles, meaning there really is something for everyone. 

“There’s lots of figurative painting,” says Kremers of current trends in the category. “Many of the artists that people are following right now are looking back to Old Master painting and working in dialogue with art history.” She cites American painter Jonas Wood as an example, whose work draws a line from Henri Matisse through Stuart Davis to David Hockney. She also mentions Flora Yukhnovich and Salmon Toor, who have both been heavily inspired by Baroque and Rococo masters.

George Condo’s “Artist and Muse,” 2015 at Contemporary Curated 2024, Sotheby’s New York. Photograph: Sotheby’s

The Curated sales offer cultural touchstones at more approachable prices, in each instance brought together by a guest curator. These have included Oprah Winfrey, Kim Jones, Cynthia Erivo, Kevin Love and Karlie Kloss. American powerhouse sports agent, entrepreneur and author Rich Paul presided over Contemporary Curated at Sotheby’s New York in 2024. This year’s edition on September 26, while yet to announce its guest curator, will spotlight trailblazing figures who defined the postwar era, alongside influential voices shaping today’s artistic landscape. 

But first comes the Open House on September 20 and 21. Acting as a precursor to the Curated sale and building on its accessible approach, the inaugural weekender will include panels, talks and interactive opportunities across categories, including wine tastings and jewelry handling sessions. Specialists will reveal how estimates are decided, how to read and understand condition reports, and whether an art adviser is truly necessary when starting a collection. 

Barbara Kruger’s “Untitled (Love for Sale),” 1989 at the Now and Contemporary Evening Sale at Sotheby’s New York in May 2025 . Photograph: Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s, with its broad range of offerings, from Dutch Old Masters to original Birkin bags, is the perfect place for new collectors to explore the potential of objects on offer at auction and discover items they may not have otherwise come across.

“I think that’s what’s so beautiful about collecting through an auction house,” says Kremers. “You don’t live with your art in the home with nothing else around you. You have furniture below the art on your walls. You have china in your kitchen, and wine in your cellar—everything you live with is a category that can be bought at auction.”

When it comes to integrating a collection into your home, Kremers believes that the art should lead. “A lot of interior decorators will buy a painting to go with the pillows, but I disagree—I always tell my friends that you buy the painting first, and then get the pillows to match,” she says. 

Contemporary Curated 2024 at Sotheby’s New York. Photograph: Sotheby’s

Happily, the Open House program includes a conversation on this very topic between Jodi Pollack, chairman and co-worldwide head of 20th-century design at Sotheby’s New York, and minimalistic menswear designer Robert Dylan. 

Following on from this, New York’s Contemporary Curated sale on September 26 should be a great opportunity for new collectors to dive into the auction market. With lots starting at US$5,000, and often with no reserve, these are accessibly priced works, opening doors to beginner buyers. 

And Kremers has some lasting advice for collectors just starting out. “It’s important to be open minded and willing to go on a journey—put some guard rails in place, but allow room to be playful and to let humour enter the process. Collecting should be an outlet for creativity and enjoyment.”

Our Collecting Focus series also features expert advice on jewelry, watches, wine, historic books, fashion history, natural history and Americana