Elevating the Coastal Home: Santa Monica Blue Chip Art Auction Returns to Bergamot Station

CAMPBELL WELLMAN PROPERTIES SANTA MONICA BERGAMOT STATION ART AUCTION OCTOBER 2026

For collectors, interior design enthusiasts, and Westside homeowners looking to infuse their living spaces with genuine cultural provenance, this Sunday, October 18, starting at 12:00 PM PST, presents an exceptional opportunity. Santa Monica Auctions hosts its highly anticipated Fall auction live at the historic Bergamot Station Arts Center in space A5.

Featuring an impressive catalog of museum-grade modern and contemporary masterworks, the auction brings together blue-chip fine art, fine art photography, and iconic West Coast pop masters under one roof.

A Curated Blue-Chip Catalog

Whether you are seeking a statement centerpiece for a Pacific Palisades living room or building a personal collection, Sunday’s lineup spans seminal names across printmaking, painting, and fine photography:

  • Southern California Icons: Works by West Coast luminaries Ed Ruscha, John Baldessari, Ed Moses, Wayne Thiebaud, and GRONK—artists whose distinct visual language helped define California’s modern art landscape.

  • Modern & Contemporary Masters: Rare pieces from David Hockney, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Miró, Alex Katz, Jim Dine, and Cindy Sherman.

  • Fine Art Photography: Architectural and lifestyle photography highlights include works by Slim Aarons, Alex Prager, Peter Beard, and Richard C. Miller.

Bergamot Station: Santa Monica’s Cultural Anchor

Located off Olympic Boulevard, Bergamot Station Arts Center remains the heartbeat of Santa Monica's art scene. Originally an 1875 red-car trolley station, the converted industrial complex now houses the West Coast's largest concentration of independent fine art galleries.

As Santa Monica continues its broader citywide efforts to elevate local arts programming and public infrastructure ahead of LA28, Bergamot Station stands as a testament to the city’s enduring creative legacy—providing a walk-able, open-air gallery environment where art lovers and collectors gather.

Auction Logistics & Bidding Options

  • Date & Time: Sunday, October 18, 2026 | Bidding commences promptly at 12:00 PM PST

  • Location: Bergamot Station Arts Center, Space A5 (2525 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA)

  • Pre-Auction Viewing: The collection is currently open for in-person preview in Space A5 ahead of Sunday's live event.

  • Registration & Bidding Methods: Free and open to the public. Bidding is available live in-person, by phone, via absentee ballot, or online via LiveAuctioneers and Invaluable. In-person seating is reserved for registered bidders (registration required at least 24 hours prior at smauctions.com).

The Campbell Wellman Take

Architecture creates the volume of a home, but art gives it soul. Original fine art transforms a property from a beautifully designed building into an elevated, personal sanctuary. Supporting local cultural hubs like Bergamot Station allows Westside homeowners to invest in pieces with lasting aesthetic and historical value while directly sustaining the vibrant creative ecology that makes Santa Monica home.