Auction Talk Heats Up: Picasso Favored, Banksy Expected to Return

People currently seem to think Sotheby's will pull ahead of Christie's in total sales. The mood leans clearly toward the former. It's a shift that has insiders talking. No one is calling it a sure thing, but the chatter is noticeable.

When it comes to the biggest name in auction turnover, expectations appear to be leaning toward Picasso. Warhol and Basquiat are both looking doubtful for the top spot. The gap feels wide. Some wonder if the market is finally settling on a clear leader.

The Turner Prize race looks quiet. Three names have come up — Barclay, Freije, and Humeau — and each one seems unlikely to win. The feeling is clearly against all of them. It's rare to see such agreement. Maybe the real contender hasn't been named yet.

Two major works are drawing divided views. Alma Thomas's "Red Mums Display" and Ed Ruscha's "Cities Across the Globe" both sit in a fog of uncertainty. Opinions split down the middle, with a slight tilt toward no for Thomas. For Ruscha, the back-and-forth is even sharper — some lean yes, others no, then back to no. It's a genuine toss-up.

Banksy feels different. People currently seem to think a new mural or street piece will appear before December. The mood is leaning yes. Meanwhile, talk around AI-generated art hitting a major auction benchmark remains mixed. Doubt is growing. The technology impresses, but the market isn't sold.