Artists and records
What is the most expensive work ever auctioned in the Czech Republic?
The record is still held by an abstract canvas by František Kupka, one of the pioneers of abstraction worldwide, auctioned in 2024 for 126.5 million crowns. It overtook the previous domestic record held by Bohumil Kubišta. It shows that even the Czech market has works of world-class value.
Which Czech artist is consistently the most expensive at auction?
The flagship of the Czech market is Bohumil Kubišta, whose Staropražský motiv sold in 2022 for 123.6 million crowns. For a long time his work was the only one to hold a line above a hundred million, with his rival Emil Filla close behind. The rivalry that drove them both on in life is now driving their prices too.
What do works by Toyen sell for, and what makes her exceptional?
Toyen is a star on the global market too: in 2025 one of her works sold at Christie's in London for more than a hundred million crowns. She is one of the few women whose prices match those of her male contemporaries, and for collectors she is a great name of the Czech avant-garde.
What is the most expensive modern painting in the world?
At present it is Gustav Klimt's Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, auctioned at Sotheby's in November 2025 for 236.4 million dollars. It is the most expensive modern painting ever sold at auction and the second most expensive work in auction history. Behind that figure stands the dramatic fate of the Lederer family and their collection.
Why are works by men more expensive than works by women?
The gender gap in the market sadly persists. The most expensive work by a living woman artist (Marlene Dumas) reached 13.6 million dollars, while Jeff Koons's Rabbit sold for 91.1 million. The visibility of women artists and women collectors is rising, though, and it is one of the trends worth watching.