Jussi Pylkkänen (born May 1963)[1] is a Finnish art advisor, and was previously the global president of the auction house Christie's.[2][3]

Jussi Pylkkänen
BornMay 1963 (age 61)
NationalityFinnish
Alma materOxford University
OccupationArt Advisor

Pylkkänen was educated at King's College School in Wimbledon, and has a bachelor's degree in English from Lady Margaret Hall at Oxford University, and a master's degree in Fine and Decorative Art.[4]

Pylkkänen was a Trustee of the Dulwich Picture Gallery from 2017 to 2019.[1]

Pylkkänen joined the auction house Christie’s in 1986 as a specialist in the Print Department and became the Head of the Impressionist and Modern Art Department in 1995. In 2005 Pylkkänen was appointed President of Christie's Europe [5] and in 2014 he was appointed Christie's global president.[6]

As an auctioneer, Pylkkänen has handled some of the most valuable works of art ever sold at auction, including six which sold above $100 million.[7] His auction records include the most expensive painting ever sold (Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi), the most expensive painting by a twentieth century artist (Andy Warhol's Shot Sage Blue Marilyn) and the most expensive work of art by a living artist (Jeff Koons' Rabbit).

Pylkkänen left Christie's at the end of 2023[8][9] to set up Art Pylkkänen,[10] a bespoke art advisory partnership based in London.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Jussi PYLKKANEN - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. 2017-02-08. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  2. ^ Jasper Rees (2016-11-19). "Sold! Inside the World's Biggest Auction House: an enigmatic look at Christie's: review". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  3. ^ "Christie's boss Jussi Pylkkänen plots the next 250 years". Theartnewspaper.com. 2016-06-28. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  4. ^ "Alumni: Jussi Pylkkanen - Christie's Education". Christies.edu. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  5. ^ "Pylkkänen to New Post At Christie's Europe". artnews.com. Retrieved 2005-02-15.
  6. ^ "More Management Changes at Christie's". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2014-12-11.
  7. ^ "Christie's Jussi Pylkkanen and superauctions". ft.com. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  8. ^ "He Sold the World's Most Expensive Artwork. Now He's Calling It a Day". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  9. ^ "Veteran Christie's Auctioneer Jussi Pylkkänen Will Leave the Auction House After 38 Years to Strike Out on His Own". artnet.com. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  10. ^ "Art Pylkkänen". artpylkkanen.com. Retrieved 2024-04-08.