Art Auction FAQs

Artsy is the world’s largest and fastest growing marketplace for buying and selling art, with the world’s largest database of contemporary art. The museum’s auction is powered by Artsy, enabling art lovers from around the world to view and bid online. Learn more about Artsy.

It’s only a 20-second registration process.

Simply download the Artsy app or visit Artsy.net and click on “Sign Up.”

Visit artsy.net/lagunaartmuseum or search “laguna art museum” in the search bar.

Click on “Register to Bid” and enter your contact and payment information. Your credit card is used to validate your account but will be charged if you win the bid for a Lot. Online auction payments are managed by Artsy.

Yes, it is!

Bidding is easy with Artsy’s automatic bidding system. Select your bid amount as long as it is greater than or equal to the next minimum bid shown on the bidding screen, then click the “Bid” button. This will automatically place a bid for you at the next increment and save the amount you entered (if higher) as your “Maximum Bid.”

What is a Maximum bid?
If you enter a bid amount higher than the next minimum bid, the amount you enter is treated as your “Maximum Bid.” Entering a Maximum Bid does not necessarily mean you will pay that price, and you may pay less. Artsy’s system will bid automatically for you against other bidders during the auction, according to our automatic bidding increments up to (but not exceeding) your Maximum Bid, as much as necessary to maintain your position as highest bidder. If two bidders attempt to enter the same Maximum Bid, the first bidder to enter that amount will be the winner.

Yes! You can bid on our online auction on your computer or mobile device. Artsy representatives can also bid for you over the phone.

To participate in the Live and Silent auction, registration to the Benefit & Bash on Saturday, March 2^nd, is required.

Artsy will send you a text message and email when you are outbid. Auction bidding will begin with the minimum bid amount posted on Artsy. Each bid thereafter must exceed the previous amount in the increment posted on Artsy. There will be no exceptions. If at any time during the auction a bid does not comply with the established incremental amount, Laguna Art Museum reserves the right to adjust the bid accordingly.

You understand that if your bid is successful, you will be obligated to pay the purchase price, which will be the sum of the final bid plus 7.75% sales tax.

The online auction via Artsy opens Friday, February 16^th, 2024 at 9:00am PST.

The live and silent auctions will take place on Saturday, March 2^nd, 2024. Benefit & Bash ticket required.

1. 1. Live Auction: 7:30pm
   2. Silent Auction: 6:30pm – 9:00pm. Winners announced at 9:30pm

The online auction via Artsy closes 9:00am PST on Monday, March 4^th, 2024. The silent auction via Laguna Art Museum closes 9:00pm PST on Saturday, March 2^nd, 2024.

1. Pick up at Laguna Art Museum will be available on March 7^th, 8^th, 11^th, or 12^th only. Appointments are required. To schedule your appointment please contact Development Event Coordinator, Carly Bornmann, at cbornmann@lagunaartmusem.org.
2. Shipping and Handling – All shipping and handling following the Art Auction will be facilitated by Goodman Shipping. If you select shipping, Laguna Art Museum will connect you with Goodman Shipping to determine your shipping preferences.

*Payments must be processed before picking up. Artsy will process online payments. Laguna Art Museum will process live and silent payments.

Goodman Shipping is partnering with the Laguna Art Museum and will handle all auction shipping. To receive a shipping quote please contact Coby Goodman at 323.642.9000 or coby@goodmanshipping.com, with the artwork name, lot #, and shipping location.

No. Goodman Shipping is one of the largest fine art handlers domestically and internationally. All art handling and shipping must abide by museum standards of care and liability.  Where applicable, winners agree to pay for shipping costs of items such as shipping, handling, packing, tariffs, insurance, carrier fees, customs, duties, or any other costs related to shipping the art to the winner.

• All property is sold “as is” (as exhibited).
• Purchase of any artwork(s) does not transfer copyright.
• All sales are final at the amount of the winning bid. No purchase can be negotiated, returned, refunded, or exchanged.
• As a user of the Artsy platform, please review their terms and conditions, found here:
  • artsy.net/terms
    • artsy.net/conditions-of-sale
    • artsy.net/privacy
• In the event of a dispute, an Artsy official shall act as the final authority for the online auction. A Laguna Art Museum shall act as the final authority for the silent and live auctions.
• Sales tax of 7.75% will be charged on all purchases.
• All bids are final and non-retractable.

• Auction items will be on view at Laguna Art Museum from Sunday, February 4^th, 2024, until Sunday, March 3^rd, 2024.
• Bidding on Artsy will begin on Friday, February 16^th, at 9 a.m. PST (noon EST) and will close on Monday, March 4, at 9:00 a.m. PST (noon EST).
• Auction items will be posted on Artsy until closing on Monday, March 4^th at 9:00 a.m. To make a bid, please complete all information requested on the Artsy website or app, adhering to the established increments. The highest bid at the time of closing will constitute the winning bid.
• Auction bidding will begin with the minimum bid amount posted on Artsy. Each bid thereafter must exceed the previous amount in the increment posted on Artsy. There will be no exceptions. If at any time during the auction a bid does not comply with the established incremental amount, Laguna Art Museum reserves the right to adjust the bid accordingly.
• You understand that if your bid is successful, you will be required to pay the purchase price, which will be the sum of the final bid plus 7.75% sales tax.

• Silent = Teal
• The silent auction will begin on March 2^nd, 2024 at 6:30pm and will close March 2^nd at 9:00pm.
• Winners will be announced at 9:30pm on March 2^nd, after the conclusion of the bidding.
• Silent Auction items will be available for pick up the week of March 4^th, 2024. Pick-up at Laguna Art Museum will be available on March 7^th, 8^th, 11^th, or 12^th Appointments are required. To schedule your appointment please contact Development Event Coordinator, Carly Bornmann, at cbornmann@lagunaartmusem.org.
• Bid sheets will be placed next to each item in the silent auction. To make a bid, please provide all the requested information on the bid sheet and state the amount you wish to bid, following the established increments. Please note that if the highest bid is considered invalid, the second-highest bid will become the highest.
• All bids must be accompanied by a valid bidder number assigned by Laguna Art Museum at check-in. Any bid placed without a bid number will be voided. If the highest bid is considered invalid, the second-highest bid will become the highest.
• During the silent auction, bidding will begin with the minimum bid amount indicated on each bid sheet. Every subsequent bid must exceed the previous amount by the increment specified on the bid sheet, without any exceptions. In case any bid fails to comply with the established incremental amount at any point during the auction, Laguna Art Museum reserves the right to adjust the bid accordingly.
• You understand that if your bid is successful, you will be required to pay the purchase price, which will be the sum of the hammer price plus 7.75% sales tax.
• If you win the bid and are not present, a museum representative will contact you on March 4th, 2024.

• Live = Pink
• The live auction will begin at 7:30pm in the Steele Gallery.
• To participate in the live auction, please raise your paddle clearly so that the auctioneer can acknowledge your bid. By placing a winning bid, you agree to enter into a binding contract to purchase the item. If your bid is successful, you will be required to pay the final bid amount plus 7.75% sales tax immediately after the auctioneer announces the item sold.
• Live Auction items will be available for pick up the week of March 4^th, 2024. Pick-up at Laguna Art Museum will be available on March 7^th, 8^th, 11^th, or 12^th Appointments are required. To schedule your appointment please contact Development Event Coordinator, Carly Bornmann, at cbornmann@lagunaartmusem.org.

• Artsy payments will be collected through Artsy. You will be prompted to enter your credit card information while registering for the auction.

**You will only be charged if you are the winning bidder.

• Silent and Live auction payments will be collected by Laguna Art Museum. Payment for the winning bid is due Monday, March 4th, 2023, by check or credit card.

**You will have the option to pay to night of the auction.

The relevant Artwork will not be made available for delivery or pick up unless or until the Museum receives in clear funds all amounts payable to it per “Payment Terms”.

If you have elected to pick up the Artwork and fail to make a pickup appointment within two business days of the Fall of the Hammer, the Museum and Affiliates will be entitled to contact the next highest bidder and declare them the winner of the lot.

Once the hammer falls, the risk associated with the artwork is transferred to the buyer. Hence, the buyer is solely responsible for arranging insurance coverage for the artwork. The museum does not provide transit insurance for artworks sold through auctions. If you request delivery of the artwork, the museum will not be responsible for any loss or damage caused during transit.

• If the Buyer fails to make payment per Payment Terms when due, the Museum is entitled to exercise one or more of the following rights or remedies (in addition to asserting any other rights or remedies available under the law):
  • (a) to hold the Buyer liable for the total amount due and to commence legal proceedings for recovery along with interest, legal fees and costs;
  • (b) to cancel the sale;
  • (c) to reject at a future auction held by the Museum any bids made by or on behalf of the Buyer or to require the Buyer to pay a deposit before accepting any future bids; and/or
  • (d) to take such other action as the Museum deems necessary or appropriate.
  • (e) to offer the artwork to the backup-bidder after 2 days of non-response to Payment Terms.
• If the Museum does sell the Artwork per this clause, then the defaulting Buyer will be liable to the Museum for the payment of any difference between the Hammer Price originally payable and the Sale Price obtained upon sale to the backup-bidder, as well as any Fees (commissions and Buyer’s premiums) that the Museum would have received on the original sale and all costs, expenses, damages and legal fees incurred by Laguna Art Museum or the Seller or the Seller’s Affiliate as a result of the Buyer’s default.
• If the Museum chooses to pay any amount to the Seller, up to the net proceeds that the Seller would have received from the Hammer Price, which the defaulting Buyer failed to pay, the Museum will have all the rights of the Seller to pursue the Buyer for that amount, regardless of the reason.

All proceeds from the sale provide funding for LAM after applicable commission to the donating artist and Artsy fees are deducted.

California sales tax (7.75%) will be included in the total price in addition to the winning bid amount.