Ressler Kunst Auktionen
Vienna auction house for Austrian modern and contemporary art, founded in 2014, selling at Galerie OstLicht
About Ressler Kunst Auktionen
Ressler Kunst Auktionen is a Vienna auction house for modern and contemporary art, mainly of Austrian origin. It holds its sales at Galerie OstLicht in the former Anker bread factory in Vienna's 10th district. It aims to lead the high-price segment of Austrian art after 1945.
The house says it is stricter than its competitors about quality when it chooses works for sale. Besides auctions, it offers free appraisals, free advice on building a collection and advances on expected auction proceeds.
History
Otto Hans Ressler announced the new company in August 2014. Ressler had run the art department of the Dorotheum in Vienna from 1986 to 1993 and co-founded the auction house im Kinsky, where he was managing partner until 2011. His partners in the new business included Peter Coeln, founder of the WestLicht photography museum and the OstLicht gallery.
The first auction took place on 2 March 2015 at Galerie OstLicht. The house has held more than 30 auctions since, and Auction 33 was set for 21 September 2026.
- 2014: Ressler Kunst Auktionen GmbH is founded
- 2015: The first auction takes place on 2 March
- 2026: Auction 33 is held at Galerie OstLicht
What Ressler Kunst Auktionen sells
The house sells paintings, works on paper, sculpture and selected objects of modern and contemporary art. Its strongest field is Austrian contemporary art and classical modernism. It also offers important international works.
Recent catalogues list artists such as Günter Brus, Bruno Gironcoli, Alfred Hrdlicka, Hermann Nitsch, Markus Prachensky, Arnulf Rainer, Oswald Tschirtner, August Walla and Franz West.
- Austrian post-war art
- Contemporary art
- Classical modernism
- Works on paper and sculpture
Selling at Ressler Kunst Auktionen
You can email photos and measurements of a work, call to arrange a free home visit, or bring the work to the gallery. Appraisals are free and do not oblige you to consign. The experts travel to all parts of Austria, to Germany, to Switzerland and to South Tyrol.
You and the house agree a minimum sale price, and you receive a written auction agreement. The house accepts works until about ten weeks before an auction. Collection, packing and transport can be arranged through its art shipping partner.
Under the house's terms, the seller's commission is 10% for works with a minimum price of €10,000 or more. It is 15% from €5,000 and 20% below €5,000, and it can be agreed freely for high-value works. The terms also list catalogue photo charges, such as €300 for a full page.
Buying and bidding
The auctions are open to the public and entry is free. You can bid in the room, by absentee bid, by telephone, through the website or live online from a computer or tablet. First-time bidders must send a copy of photo ID. The catalogue prices are starting bids, and bids usually rise by about 10%.
Under the general terms of business, the buyer's premium is 28% of the hammer price, including VAT, under the margin scheme. Where normal taxation applies, as marked in the catalogue, the premium is 24% plus 13% VAT. Resale royalties are added for works by living artists and artists who died less than 70 years ago.
Location and viewing
Ressler Kunst Auktionen is based at Galerie OstLicht, Absberggasse 27, 1100 Vienna. The works are shown there for several days before each auction, including on the Sunday before the sale. The print catalogue costs €20.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the buyer's premium at Ressler Kunst Auktionen?
Its general terms set the buyer's premium at 28% of the hammer price, including VAT, under the margin scheme. For lots under normal taxation it is 24% plus 13% VAT.
How much does it cost to sell at Ressler Kunst Auktionen?
The seller's commission is 10% for works with a minimum price of €10,000 or more, 15% from €5,000 and 20% below €5,000. It can be agreed freely for high-value works.
Where does Ressler Kunst Auktionen hold its auctions?
It holds them at Galerie OstLicht, Absberggasse 27, in Vienna's 10th district. The gallery is in the former Anker bread factory.
Fee Information
28% of hammer incl. VAT (margin scheme); 24% plus 13% VAT under normal taxation
10% (reserve €10,000+), 15% (€5,000+), 20% (under €5,000); negotiable for high-value works
Source: Official website
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