This María Berrío Work Is Back on the Market—With a Much Lower Price Tag | Artnet News
Artnet News
by Katya KazakinaFebruary 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Sotheby’s is offering María Berrío's mixed-media collage *Act II, Scene 4: Threshold* at a significantly reduced estimate of $60,000–$80,000 during its “Contemporary Discoveries” online sale, which concludes on February 27. The work previously sold for $380,000 at a charity auction three years ago, illustrating a notable gap between primary and secondary market prices. Created in 2023 using Japanese paper, cloth, and gold leaf, the piece depicts a woman contemplating a mask, blending cultural and emotional depth.
María Berrío, a Brooklyn-based artist of Colombian descent, gained attention during the pandemic as demand surged for underrepresented women artists and artists of color. Her auction sales reached $11.8 million in 2022, with a record $1.6 million set. However, her market has since cooled, with only three pieces sold at auction in 2023, generating just $6,651—a stark decline. Despite this, Berrío continues to achieve strong sales through galleries like Hauser and Wirth, which represents her. Her solo exhibition in New York last year featured works priced between $150,000 and $395,000.
The resale of *Act II, Scene 4: Threshold* highlights the volatile nature of the art market, where prices can fluctuate dramatically between primary and secondary sales. This shift underscores broader trends in collector sentiment and the challenges artists face in maintaining consistent value in both markets. The work’s重新出现也反映了艺术市场中艺术家作品流通的复杂性，以及收藏家兴趣变化如何影响艺术品的长期价值。
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Originally published on Artnet News on 2/24/2026