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• Issue #212
• Article

Joshua Holdeman, new Sotheby's Worldwide Head of 20th-Century Design, Photographs and Prints

Sotheby's has appointed Joshua Holdeman as Worldwide Head of 20th-Century Design, Photographs and Prints. Holdeman joined Sotheby's earlier this year as Vice Chairman, Americas and his new role is effective immediately. It comes on the heels of the retirement of Denise Bethel, former chairman of the New York Photographs Department. It may signal a change in how photography is positioned and marketed at the auction house.

"The categories of 20th Century Design, Photographs and Prints have tremendous growth potential in today's ever-expanding market of all things modern and we are delighted that Josh is going to help position Sotheby's to take full advantage of this," commented Maarten ten Holder, Managing Director of Sotheby's Americas.

"Collectors today are looking to acquire great objects from the 20/21st Centuries and it makes sense to approach these categories in particular with a unified vision."

Mark Cornell, managing director of Sotheby's Europe commented, "Throughout his entire career, Josh has focused on art and design of the last century, working across a variety of categories simultaneously. Collaborating closely with seasoned teams of specialists in London, New York and Paris, his extensive experience in this arena situates him perfectly for this role."

Holdeman began his career at Robert Miller Gallery in New York, which was among the first galleries to simultaneously present Contemporary Art, Photography and 20th Century Design as a part of its program. During his nearly ten-year tenure at the gallery, Holdeman worked with artists and artists' estates such as The Estate of Joan Mitchell, The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louise Bourgeois, The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Estate of Diane Arbus and Bruce Weber. He joined Phillips, de Pury & Luxembourg in 2001, where he helped found its photographs department and oversaw a number of landmark sales, including the Seagram collection of photographs in 2003. In 2004, Holdeman began working at Christie's as International Head of Photographs and 20th Century Design, before moving to the Post-War & Contemporary Department as an International Director, and eventually to the Chairman's Office.

During his tenure at Christie's, Holdeman supervised many landmark single-owner sales as well as single artist sales, including those comprising the work of Robert Mapplethorpe, Diane Arbus, Line Vautrin, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Robert Frank and William Eggleston.