Bonhams will relocate its US headquarters to 111 West 57th Street this February, establishing a new flagship inside the landmarked Steinway Hall as the 230-year-old auction house accelerates its expansion in one of the world’s largest art markets.
The move marks a major step for Bonhams, founded in 1793 and now operating globally across more than 60 categories, from fine art and design to collector cars and luxury. The new 42,000-square-foot headquarters—30 percent larger than its previous Madison Avenue home—is host to an 80-foot glass atrium and triple-height galleries designed for exhibitions and sales.
The Beaux-Arts Steinway Hall, originally built for piano maker Steinway & Sons and designed by Warren & Wetmore—the architects behind Grand Central Terminal—has been closed to the public for a decade. Its limestone facade, domed rotunda, hand-painted mosaics, marble arches, and sculptural detailing have been restored by JDS Development Group and Gensler, returning the space to the cultural prominence it held throughout the 20th century as a destination for concerts, recitals, and art. Bonhams will once again open the hall to visitors, integrating it into a multipurpose cultural program of free exhibitions, guest installations, and live performances.
For Bonhams, the relocation represents a new phase in its US growth. “This is it—we knew the moment we walked in,” Lilly Chan, Bonhams’s U.S. managing director, told ARTnews. She cited the house’s need for a larger, unified base and the strategic value of 57th Street’s “cultural corridor,” home to museums, performance venues, and luxury retail. “We’ve outgrown our former space. This brings the whole team under one roof and allows us to convene collectors at every level. Our aim is to be the most approachable, accessible auction house in the city.”
CEO Seth Johnson said the flagship reflects the scale of the company’s ambitions. “It is a truly beautiful, impressive space—one that reflects our ambition for the US market,” Jonson told ARTnews in an email. “It positions us to make a stronger impact, and attract the level of consignments we’re aiming for. It’s a real game-changer.” The new headquarters also consolidates Bonhams’s coast-to-coast US presence—including salesrooms in New York, Los Angeles, and New England—strengthening its reach across the country.
