London-based art collecting platform Artscapy launches a new auction model, promising a more transparent and accessible approach to buying and selling art.
Works by Andy Warhol, Tracey Emin, Stanley Whitney, Victor Vasarely and Frank Stella are among the highlights of a new online auction that is seeking to challenge the conventions of the traditional art market. Launched this week by London-based collecting platform Artscapy, the inaugural sale brings together established 20th-century names and emerging contemporary artists, with a mid-market focus and simplified commission structure designed to appeal to a new generation of collectors.
Founded by Alessandro and Emilia De Stasio, Artscapy has established itself as a digital platform offering collectors services ranging from artwork valuations and collection management to private sales and art-backed finance. Its latest venture, Artscapy Auctions, represents a new direction for the company, placing an emphasis on transparency, competitive fees and curated sales.
Central to the proposition is a zero-percent seller’s commission, allowing consignors to retain the full hammer price, while buyers registering directly with Artscapy pay a flat 16% premium. Artworks can also remain with their owners until sold, eliminating the need for upfront transportation and storage. Its Signature Auctions will be limited to 50 lots, allowing greater attention to be devoted to individual works, from research and valuation to marketing and sale.
The launch comes at an interesting moment for the international art market. According to the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report 2026, global art sales rose by 4% to $59.6 billion (£44.19 billion) in 2025, marking a return to growth after two consecutive years of decline. Yet the recovery was uneven, with auction sales of works priced above $10 million (£7.4 million) increasing by 30%, while sales below $50,000 (£37,000) fell by 2%. Against this backdrop, Artscapy’s focus on the mid-market, and on reducing the costs associated with buying and selling, offers a tempting alternative to established auction-house models.
“Collectors should feel empowered by the auction process, not penalised by it.”
Alessandro De Stasio, Co-founder and CEO, Artscapy
“Collectors should feel empowered by the auction process, not penalised by it,” says Alessandro De Stasio, founder and CEO of Artscapy. “The mid-market deserves the same specialist knowledge, intelligent pricing and individual attention as the very top of the market, without the legacy fees and unnecessary complexity.”
The inaugural Modern and Contemporary Art sale offers an intriguing and highly attractive cross-section of 20th-century and contemporary art. Leading the selection is Andy Warhol’s Mick Jagger (1975), estimated at £60,000–£80,000, alongside the Pop Art pioneer’s $ (1) (1982), estimated at £30,000–£50,000. Other highlights include Tadaaki Kuwayama’s Untitled (1967), with an estimate of £8,000–£12,000, Stanley Whitney’s Untitled (2014) at £10,000–£15,000, Tracey Emin’s Good Smile Great Come (2000) at £50,000–£70,000, and Damien Hirst’s The Golden Calf Drawing (2008) at £40,000–£60,000.
The catalogue also features works by Frank Stella, Victor Vasarely and Arnaldo Pomodoro, alongside a younger generation of artists including Daisy Dodd-Noble, Studio Lenca and Cece Philips.
Open to bidders internationally, the auction runs online from 2–12 November 2026, with selected works available to view at Artscapy House in London’s Fitzrovia. Bidding concludes at 4pm GMT on 12 November.