Four Joan Mitchell paintings created between 1954 and 1990 will be auctioned at Sotheby’s upcoming Contemporary Evening Art sale on May 13 for a combined estimate above US$40 million.

The March marquee sales land at a moment when the pound is riding high, giving the major auction houses a reason to bet big on the masterpieces they’re putting on the block.

Sotheby's will offer four major paintings by Joan Mitchell as part of its contemporary evening sale on May 13, spanning the artist's career, with estimates ranging between $1 million and $20 million.