The Complete Guide to Bidding in an Artsy Auction

Our specialists break down all of the things you need to know before, during, and after bidding in Artsy Auctions.

All Artsy Auctions and Artsy Impact Auctions are curated by our team and held exclusively on our platform.

You can bid via desktop or on your phone anytime, anywhere by downloading the Artsy app. (Need help? Please read “How to Download Artsy’s Mobile App.”)

What to know before you bid

Since auctions move quickly, we recommend getting the information you need and placing your bids early.

Most artwork information is listed directly on the lot page. If you have a question or need more information, simply click “Ask a Specialist” underneath the “Bid” button or email [email protected]. You will hear back within one business day.

Here are some things you might want to consider inquiring about before the sale begins:

Condition reports

You can find notes about the condition of an artwork on every lot page under the “About the work” section. The condition notes will include any defects, such as creases or discoloration. If you want to see further images of the work, please email [email protected].

Additional fees

Buyer’s premium, applicable taxes, and shipping costs are not included in your bid amount.

• Buyer’s Premium: Buyer’s premium (BP) is a standard fee charged to any winning bidder at auction. Buyer’s premium is usually 25% of the winning bid. The exact amount can be found by clicking on “This auction has a buyer’s premium” on a lot page, or under “Buyer’s premium” when placing your bid. Beyond the buyer’s premium, there is no additional fee for bidding through Artsy.
• Shipping costs: If the work qualifies for Artsy’s flat-rate shipping, the quotes will be found in the “About the work” section on each lot page. If the lot does not qualify, you can request a quote by emailing the lot number and your shipping address to [email protected].
• Taxes and Fees: Applicable local sales tax will be included in your invoice, and any import fees for international shipments will be charged when your work reaches the border. You can learn more about taxes here.

How to place your bid

Register

Before you place a bid, you will need to agree to our terms of condition by registering for the auction. You can register on the sale page by clicking the “Register” button or by clicking the “Bid” button on your lot of interest.

Register as soon as you have interest to ensure you don’t miss out on a lot. If it’s your first time registering, you will be asked to fill in information to ensure a smooth post-sale experience. You may also be asked to provide ID or financial verification for select auctions.

Bid

There are two ways to place bids on Artsy, which you can do at any time while the auction is open.

The first option—which our specialists recommend—is to place a maximum bid, which you can set to the maximum price you would pay for the lot. Artsy will bid on your behalf, up to (but not exceeding) this amount to maintain your position as the highest bidder as the sale progresses. This way, you can sit back and relax during the auction and still buy the work at the lowest possible price. If you place a maximum bid, you can still raise that maximum bid to continue bidding beyond your original max. Your maximum bid is entirely confidential, and we will never let you bid against your own account.

The second option to set your bid at the next available bidding increment. If someone outbids you, you’ll receive an email. You can return to the auction on Artsy to place a higher bid to stay in the lead.

All bids are binding, so make sure you have the information you need before placing your bids.

How to know when your lot closes

All lots are scheduled to close at 1-minute intervals (known as cascading bidding) to allow you to bid on multiple lots.

If a bid comes in in the final 2 minutes of bidding, the lot will be extended by 2 minutes (known as popcorn bidding). This allows you to have ample time to counter back if you’re outbid, and secure your lot of interest.

Please pay close attention to a specific lot’s end times, as each lot closes individually. Refer to each lot’s countdown timers that are listed on each lot page.

For more help, please read: “What is cascade and popcorn bidding and how does it work?”

How to win your lot

For the best chance at winning your lot(s) of interest in an Artsy Auction, we recommend:

• Making sure you’ve added your phone number to your Collector Profile to receive text notifications if you are outbid. You can add your phone number to your Collector Profile here. We’ll also notify you by email.
• Add the online-only auction close time to your calendar. Bidding is the most active during the last 10 minutes of the lot being open. It’s a good idea to monitor the auction at this time.

Place a maximum bid to ensure you win your lot below a certain price, even if you get pulled away from your phone or computer when your lot closes.

What to expect after an auction