Heritage Auctions CEO Steve Ivy Named to Observer’s 2025 Art Power Index

Recognition underscores Ivy’s pioneering role in redefining the global art market and expanding the boundaries of collecting DALLAS, Texas (Nov. 17, 2025) — The Observer has named Steve Ivy, Co-Founder and CEO of Heritage Auctions, to its prestigious 2025 Art Power Index, the publication’s annual list recognizing the most influential figures shaping the global art world. Ivy’s inclusion marks a milestone for Heritage and for the broader auction industry, as it celebrates not only his leadership but also Heritage’s success in transforming how art and cultural value are defined in the 21st century. Each year, the Observer’s Art Power Index spotlights curators, dealers, collectors, advisors and executives whose influence “moves the needle on valuation and redefines how art is made, shown and sold.” Among this year’s 47 honorees are some of the most recognized powerbrokers in fine art, alongside Ivy — whose selection reflects the growing recognition of Heritage’s role in broadening the art market to include collectible and cultural disciplines once considered outside the traditional canon. Under Ivy’s leadership, Heritage Auctions has become the world’s third-largest auction house, achieving record-breaking growth even as many competitors faced steep declines. The company reported $962 million in sales through June 2025—its highest midyear total ever—after closing 2024 at $1.86 billion in global sales. Heritage’s two million-plus registered bidders now represent one of the most diverse and engaged collector bases in the industry. “It’s deeply gratifying to be recognized by the Observer among so many individuals who have shaped the world of art and collecting,” says Ivy. “At Heritage, we’ve always believed that art and culture exist on a continuum — that the same creativity and craftsmanship that drive fine art can also be found in objects of popular imagination. Our mission has been to create a more inclusive, transparent and inspiring marketplace for every kind of collector.” Founded in Dallas in 1976, Heritage has grown into a global auction leader across 50 categories, from fine and decorative arts to numismatics, sports, comics, design, entertainment and pop culture. Ivy’s strategic investment in collectible sectors in the early 2000s positioned Heritage at the forefront of the market’s generational shift — one driven by transparency, technology and the collecting passions of younger buyers. “Steve understood, decades before anyone else, that the collecting world was changing — and that the next generation would define art more broadly, more personally and more inclusively,” says Jim Halperin, Co-Founder of Heritage Auctions. “His vision, integrity and relentless curiosity have shaped Heritage’s culture from the beginning. This recognition from the Observer is not only well deserved; it affirms how profoundly Steve’s ideas have influenced the entire auction landscape.” With Ivy at the helm, Heritage continues to set benchmarks for digital innovation, ethical transparency and client engagement, proving that a company born in collectibles not only competes with but also redefines the global art establishment. Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world's largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet's most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 2 million registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of 7,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit. For breaking stories, follow us: HA.com/Facebook and HA.com/Twitter . Link to this release or view prior press releases . Hi-Res images available: Christina Rees, Director of Public Relations and Communications 214-409-1341; CRees@HA.com