Anyone who hears “auction” and immediately pictures Sotheby’s, exclusive circles, and five-figure record sums hasn’t yet set foot in the Auktionshaus am Grunewald. From 18.-20.09.2026, the house once again transforms into a place where art history doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and bidding is genuinely fun. Anyone can join in; a few hundred euros is enough to get started. The auction kicks off on Friday (18.09., from 18h) with around 230 lots, before hundreds more pieces go under the hammer on Saturday and Sunday, each starting at midday.
David Hockney’s exhibition poster “Still Life with Book” opens with an estimate of between 100 and 200 euros. For something more unconventional, bid on a textile piece by Rosemarie Trockel: the silk scarf “Untitled”, in its original packaging, currently sits at 220 euros and works equally well around the neck or as a wall piece. Several pins by Yoko Ono are also coming up, which pair nicely with Trockel’s scarf on a jacket or can be arranged as miniature sculptures (estimate: 200–300 euros). There’s no shortage of finds under 500 euros either. A black-and-white print by Félix González-Torres has a starting price of 200 euros, or a signed print by Andreas Gursky currently at 360 euros. Or perhaps a wooden wall object by Imi Knoebel in the same price range?
The truly priceless rush comes during the bidding itself. The moment you raise your hand, that brief flicker of doubt over whether someone might snatch the work out from under you, and finally, the thrill of walking away with a genuine piece of art. That’s precisely why an auction might just be one of Berlin’s most underrated weekend activities. More thrilling than the cinema, cheaper than you’d think. Best to view the works in person beforehand and jot down the lot numbers in advance. The public preview kicks off tomorrow (11.09.), and the team around Lena Winter and Sebastian Greber will let you in on a few insider favorites.
Text: Laura Storfner / Photos: Alexander Anufriev
Auktionshaus am Grunewald, Lise-Meitner-Str.7-9, 10589 Berlin-Charlottenburg; map
All preview and auction dates can be found here.
@aagrunewald
