Bonhams Opens New US Headquarters at 111 West 57th Street

On Monday (Feb. 9), Bonhams unveiled a new US headquarters at 111 West 57th Street in its latest effort to expand its presence in the US market, following several record years of global growth. In 2025, the company reached a milestone of $970 million in total sales across all auctions and private transactions worldwide, driven in part by record performance in Asia (HK$810 million earned in Hong Kong). In November, Bonhams New York’s 20th and 21st Century Art Week launched one of its most successful domestic shows to date, setting the stage for its new US flagship.

“Our move to this historic address along the cultural corridor of 57th Street—where retail, architecture and art converge—is a statement of our long-term commitment to the US market, and an opportunity to redefine how Bonhams approaches it,” Lilly Chan told the Observer, adding that the new headquarters allows Bonhams to engage visually with New York-area collectors. Designed to be welcoming and inclusive, state-of-the-art auction rooms, enhanced galleries and redesigned reception areas will support exhibitions, public-facing programs and, in particular, cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Designed by SHOP Architects, the historic 42,000-square-foot Steinway Rotunda is seamlessly integrated with the 80-foot glass atrium, providing a clear view into the heart of the auction house. The street-facing atrium serves as a lobby and reception area, anchored by a grand staircase leading to a triple-height gallery and two large, world-class auction rooms—enhancing both accessibility and visibility.

According to Chan, the four-story headquarters will better accommodate Bonhams’ more than 60 sales divisions. “The design of our new space allows us to make categories work in ways that weren’t possible before, especially contemporary art, collectibles, luxury, automobiles and culturally significant private collections,” he said. “With multiple gallery formats and the new flexibility of space, we can accommodate everything from large objects to site-specific installations, creating opportunities for professionals to focus on exhibition-led storytelling and collaborate across departments.”

The space reflects Bonhams’ strategic alignment with the wider industry shift among auction houses towards the fast-growing luxury segment, where experiential, lifestyle-driven offerings are becoming central to an expanding audience. While luxury has long been part of Bonhams’ identity, Chan noted that what sets the house apart is its scope and approach to content. “Categories such as jewellery, watches, cars and design are not considered close to fine art, but part of a wider cultural and collective conversation.” This strategy translates very well to the country’s markets. “Regardless of where the product is sold, our customers are global, and APAC and the US are very important to our business as key growth areas.”

Bonhams’ jewelery department delivered outstanding results in 2025, with high-value pieces and one-owner collections performing strongly across eight salerooms around the world. Chan confirmed that in the US, the category has emerged as the main driver of growth, including a strong demand for information and a broad appeal for collectors. Since 2019, this category has grown by 65 percent, driven by exceptional stones, strong provenance and valuable collections—areas where Bonhams has long-standing authority. “In the US, jewelry is often the gateway to a broader collection,” she said. “We intend to use this new space to further our growth trajectory. Good things deserve a good place to be displayed.”

Founded in London in 1793 by Thomas Dodd—the former royal portrait dealer to King George III—and Walter Bonham as Bonhams & Brooks, Bonhams is among the oldest auction houses in the world. Throughout the 19th Century, it built a reputation as a reliable mid- to high-end auction house operating alongside Christie’s and Sotheby’s, distinguished by its expert-driven focus. In the early 2000s, Bonhams adopted an international expansion strategy, opening showrooms throughout Europe, the US and Asia. Recently, under the private equity ownership of Epiris, the house has acquired regional auction houses including Skinner, Bukowskis, Bruun Rasmussen, Cornette de Saint-Cyr and others, creating a cohesive global network with deep local expertise. In October 2025, Bonhams was acquired by Pemberton Asset Management, marking the start of a new chapter for the company.

The first exhibitions scheduled to open are an example of Bonhams’ interdisciplinary approach. In the atrium, the hall presents “Striking a Chord,” a thematically curated exhibit dedicated to the history of Steinway Hall. At its center is a 1910 Steinway & Sons Model B Grand Piano, which will be offered in the upcoming Masters of Pop auction running online April 23-May 7, 2026, with an estimate of $250,000-350,000. The piano has some historic music, played by Elton John during the recording of his landmark 1974 album. Caribouincluding one Don’t let the sun set on me. Surrounding the metal are modern and contemporary art, including the rarest to the market. La Muse endormie II by Constantin Brancusi, and works by John Chamberlain, Francis Bacon and Lee Krasner.

Also on view is “Modern Cuban Painters from Havana to New York: The Exhibition,” which pays tribute to the Museum of Modern Art’s landmark 1944 exhibition “Modern Cuban Painters”—the pivotal moment when Cuban modernism entered US cultural awareness. Presented in collaboration with the Fundación Mariano Rodríguez, this exhibition reunites, for the first time in more than 80 years, the works shown in the original MoMA exhibition and the paintings exhibited in the influential galleries of New York in the 1940s and which have not been seen publicly for decades. The artists represented include prominent names in Cuban art, such as Wilfredo Lam, Mario Carreño, Cundo Bermúdez, Mariano Rodríguez and Amelia Peláez.

Rounding out the opening presentations is a selection from the collection of renowned New York gallerist Evan Lobel, which includes a refined group of artists and designers who helped shape the city’s postwar architectural landscape. Highlights include iconic works by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, Karl Springer and Stephen Rolfe Powell, and a diamond dust painting by Andy Warhol from the collection of billionaire investor and philanthropist Sid Bass.

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