Simon de Pury (born Abram Simon Léonor Christian de Pury on 21 November 1951 in Basel, Switzerland) is one of the most influential figures in the art market of the last half‑century. Renowned for his theatrical auction style, encyclopedic art world knowledge and eclectic pursuits (auctioneer, art dealer, curator, collector, DJ and photographer), de Pury has shaped tastes, driven record sales and steered major collections around the globe.
He began his career in the early 1970s after studying Japanese painting in Tokyo, later working for Sotheby’s and eventually becoming Chairman Europe and Chief Auctioneer Worldwide before co‑founding Phillips de Pury & Company, where he served as Chairman and Chief Auctioneer through its rapid expansion from 2001 to 2012.
Top 10 Notable Sales and Auction Moments
Below are some of the most talked‑about transactions and auction highlights associated with de Pury’s auctioneering career and collecting influence — a mix of record prices, iconic lots and significant curated sales:
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Marc Newson – Prototype “Lockheed Lounge” (1988)
Sold for approx. $2,098,500 at Phillips in New York, one of the most iconic design pieces ever offered under his hammer. -
Helmut Newton Photographs from de Pury Collection
A group of 50 photographs (e.g., Saddle II, Paris, 1976) estimated around £40,000–£60,000 each, offered from his personal collection — a milestone as a collector selling masterworks he personally curated. -
Photographs Auction at Phillips New York (2011)
A comprehensive photographs sale totaling $5,802,250 under his leadership — demonstrating Phillips’ strength in the photo market. -
Jacob Kassay – Contemporary Work (2010–2011)
A work sold for $290,500, far above its intended market expectation — illustrating how de Pury’s auctions could push emerging contemporary artists’ secondary market value. -
Charity Auction for Ukraine (2022)
de Pury auctioned art raising $1.3 million during the Venice Biennale in support of Ukraine — a landmark philanthropic sale. -
“Women: Art in Times of Chaos” Online Auction (2023)
An innovative virtual event that sold all 16 lots (including works by Alexis McGrigg, Chloe Wise, Minjung Kim) — high sale of $170,000 for Geneva Figgis’ painting, showcasing his shift into digital and thematic auction models. -
Historical Collection Sales (Sotheby’s/Phillips Era)
During his tenure at Sotheby’s and Phillips, de Pury conducted major estate auctions (e.g., Thurn und Taxis, Baden sales, Palazzo Corsini) drawing elite global buyers — although exact hammer prices vary, they often totalled tens of millions collectively. -
Fashion + Design at Auction
de Pury famously brought design objects like Zaha Hadid or Karl Lagerfeld works to auction, blurring lines between collectible art and design and often achieving premium returns. -
Private Charity Auctions Worldwide
Over his career, de Pury has helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars (and several billion dollars in total estimates) for causes via amfAR, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Guggenheim, MOCA and more. -
Primary Market Auctions via de PURY Digital Platform
While newer and evolving, these digital sales have set multiple artist records and introduced novel formats that remap how artists and galleries connect to buyers.
Collector, Dealer and Curator
After selling his stake in Phillips in 2012, de Pury and his then‑wife founded de Pury de Pury, a private art advisory and curatorial firm supporting collectors, institutions and exhibitions. The firm has organised curated shows with artists such as Erik Bulatov, Mario Testino, Mary McCartney and Wojciech Fangor, blending commercial insight with curatorial storytelling.
In 2020, he launched de PURY Presents, an initiative to give collectors and audiences unique access to artists — both digitally and live — spanning art, design, photography and music. Among artists presented are Henry Hudson and Vanessa Beecroft.
Clients and Market Reach
de Pury’s client roster, built over decades, includes:
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Blue‑chip collectors in New York, London, Hong Kong and Geneva
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Institutions and museums seeking marquee works or curated exhibitions
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Design moguls and celebrity collectors who attend themed auctions
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Philanthropic organisations using his auctioneering to maximize fundraising impact
His long tenure at Phillips made the house a destination for contemporary art, photography and design buyers, capturing new markets and cultural collectors — a strategy that continues in his advisory and curatorial work today.
Private Life and Personality
Born into a Swiss noble family with a father in pharmaceutical leadership and a mother expert in ikebana, de Pury’s eclectic upbringing helped shape a global cultural sensibility. He speaks multiple languages and has been celebrated for his dynamic and performative auction style — so much so that he earned the nickname “the Mick Jagger of art auctions” for his energy and showmanship behind the podium.
He has five children and lives between Monaco and major art capitals, often mixing his professional roles with personal passions: as a photographer, his images have been exhibited internationally, and as a DJ de Pury often spins at art world parties, blending music culture with art collecting.
Curated Projects and Future Vision
Aside from auctions, de Pury continues to innovate:
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Curated exhibitions under de Pury Presents that expand beyond traditional gallery formula.
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Digital auction ventures that marry technology with the excitement of live bidding.
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Philanthropic sales that integrate charitable giving into commercial markets, exemplified by his model where a portion of premiums supports causes.
He frequently appears as a commentator and mentor on television and in documentaries, translating insider market wisdom to broader audiences and positioning the auctioneer’s craft as both performance art and economic engine in the contemporary culture space.
Legacy: Art World Showman and Market Innovator
Simon de Pury’s career bridges the old auction traditions of Sotheby’s and modern world markets, pushing boundaries in how contemporary art, design and photography are valued, collected and celebrated. Whether behind the gavel, behind the DJ decks or behind the camera, his influence continues to shape collector culture and the art market’s future — blending spectacle, strategy and scholarship into one unforgettable auctioneer’s life story.
