Auerbach, Chadwick, and More - Modern British & Irish Art Evening Sale Highlights Tour | Christie's

Why It Matters

The auction spotlights marquee British and Irish artists, shaping price trends and affirming collector demand for post‑war modernist works, which can recalibrate market valuations globally.

Key Takeaways

• Christie's March 2026 evening sale features modern British, Irish works.
• Frank Hourback's 2004-05 Christmas tree captures nostalgic North London.
• Lynn Chadwick's 1988 Back to Venice references 1956 Venice Biennale triumph.
• Bridget Riley's 1986 Recollection introduces diagonal romboid patterns shifting colors.
• Barbara Hepworth's 1960 walnut sculpture marks return to direct carving.

Summary

Christie's previewed its March 18, 2026 Modern British and Irish Art Evening Sale, showcasing a curated selection of post‑war masterpieces that underline the house’s focus on high‑profile, historically significant works. The catalogue highlights Frank Hourback’s 2004‑05 "Christmas Tree at Morningington Crescent," a vivid landscape that evokes half a century of personal memory, alongside Lynn Chadwick’s monumental 1988 sculpture "Back to Venice," which revisits his 1956 Venice Biennale prize that catapulted him onto the international stage. The sale also features Bridget Riley’s 1986 painting "Recollection," a turning‑point piece where her signature stripes evolve into interlocking diagonal romboids, creating a shimmering field that changes with the viewer’s eye. Complementing these works, Barbara Hepworth’s 1960 walnut sculpture demonstrates her return to direct carving after a bronze period, emphasizing material grain and a serene, curvilinear form. Each piece is presented as a benchmark of its creator’s artistic evolution and market relevance. Christie’s commentary underscores the emotional resonance of Hourback’s London scene, Chadwick’s self‑referential nod to his Venice triumph, Riley’s bold departure from orthogonal patterns, and Hepworth’s tactile exploration of wood. The auction house frames these works not merely as objects but as narrative milestones that capture pivotal moments in British and Irish modernism. The curated selection signals robust collector appetite for mid‑century British sculpture and late‑20th‑century painting, likely driving competitive bidding and reinforcing the market’s confidence in these artists’ enduring value. Success at this sale could set price benchmarks that influence future valuations across the broader European modern art market.

Original Description

Join Alice Murray, Head of Evening Sale, for a walkthrough of the defining highlights from our Modern British and Irish Art sales.

Discover Barbara Hepworth’s exquisitely carved Curved Form — an elegant, dynamic example of her sculptural language. Experience the kinetic energy of Bridget Riley’s Recollection, where tessellating forms capture a pivotal moment in her evolving visual vocabulary.

Encounter the bold presence of Lynn Chadwick’s Back to Venice, a powerful emblem of the artist’s return to the Venice Biennale. And at the heart of our Evening Sale, immerse yourself in Frank Auerbach’s Christmas Tree at Mornington Crescent — a commanding celebration of memory, landscape and the transformative force of paint.

Explore these works and more in our Modern British and Irish Art sales. Exhibitions are free and open to all.

📅Modern British and Irish Art Evening Sale: 18 March

📅 Modern British and Irish Art Day Sale: 19 March