Christie’s to hold online-only auction in Dubai on Oct.22-23

Auction house Christie’s is holding its second online-only sale of Middle Eastern modern and contemporary art in Dubai on October 22 and 23, said a press statement on Wednesday.

These sales were introduced by Christie’s, the market innovators in the region, at the same time last year and attracted a significant number of new buyers to Christie’s both from the region and internationally.

The company announced sales of £2.69 billion, up 12% for the half year ending 30 June 2014.

Christie’s successful strategy to connect with more collectors globally underpins the results, with the figures driven by an increase in the value of artworks sold across categories, geographies and price levels. Digital engagement and new buyers coming to the market have continued to drive growth; new clients represented 24% of all buyers and 15% of the sales total in the first half of 2014.

Steven Murphy, Christie’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Christie’s continued position of leadership is evidenced again in our half year results. Yet more important is that we are meeting our goal of serving more clients than any other art business globally and at all levels of collecting. Our strategy to engage this growing audience for art through auction, private sales and digitally has been validated and again welcomed many new buyers. We continue to lead the top levels of the art market, particularly in the Post-War & Contemporary art area, while also successfully serving the broad variety of interests through all our categories and online sales.  It is a new era of excitement and engagement about art and for art. By putting the art first, Christie’s has captured the imagination of our clients and served them in their quest to connect with the art itself.”

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