I n June of 2023, Sotheby’s acquired the Breuer building – the Brutalist masterpiece that opened in 1966 as the Whitney Museum of American Art, and then became locations for The Frick Collection and Metropolitan Museum of Art.

On November 8, 2025, we will welcome the global art community back into this glorious space at 945 Madison Avenue. It will become our new worldwide headquarters, the home to our New York galleries, and one of the world’s premier destinations to view fine art and luxury objects.
As always, our galleries will be free and open to the public. On view will be the blockbuster exhibition for our marquee auctions of Modern and Contemporary Art, held the week of November 17. Luxury Week will follow December 5.

The Breuer building completes a trifecta of recent openings that gives Sotheby’s, without question, the best portfolio of gallery spaces in the auction world. Last year, we opened new buildings in Hong Kong and Paris. We’ve seen record foot traffic to both, and we expect even more in New York.
The inauguration of this new home will return Sotheby’s to Madison Avenue, where it was originally located in New York, and signals a new era of public use for the iconic structure. We understand that everyone is curious about what’s changed – and, just as importantly, what has stayed the same – in the Breuer.

You’ll be pleased to see that Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron (known for the Tate Modern among many other projects), working in partnership with New York-based PBDW Architects, has done brilliant work in amplifying the beloved building’s historical and material legacy while preparing it for the best Sotheby’s has to offer. Defining elements – such as the bluestone floors, coffered concrete ceilings, sculptural staircase, and bespoke lobby finishings – are being preserved. Sensitive enhancements will augment accessibility, spatial flexibility, and the overall visitor experience.

In short, we’ve approached the refurbishment with the same care and respect we bring to a great work of art. The project has received strong support from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, which designated the Breuer Building as both an individual and interior landmark in May 2025 and praised Sotheby’s plans as a “spectacular use” of the space.

Two articles (one in Architectural Digest and another in our own Sotheby’s Magazine) explore the transformation in depth and feature striking photos taken during the construction process. Much work has been done since then. The building will soon be ready, and we can’t wait to show you around.

As part of our opening festivities, we’ll host a series of events to welcome our clients to the Breuer. Please watch this space for updates. For now, mark your calendar for November 8.