The Mick Jagger of Auctions' Celebrated in Simon Wallon's 'The Hammer': 'He's in the Shadows but Also in the Spotlight' (EXCLUSIVE)

A new documentary film, “The Hammer,” is set for its world premiere at the Zurich Film Festival, spotlighting star auctioneer and former Sotheby’s chairman Simon de Pury. Director Simon Wallon describes de Pury as a compelling figure—quiet and reserved at times, yet the “Mick Jagger of auctions” when conducting sales. The film, produced by Kiss & Kill, AIG, Formapro Films, On a Whim Films, Lazy Mike Gallery and Black Square Magazine, includes an exclusive clip released ahead of the premiere. Wallon says the art world doesn’t view de Pury’s auction influence as harmful, and artists such as Chloe Wise, Lou Zhenggang, Jeff Koons and Marina Abramović praise him. De Pury discusses his stage fright, the pressure to maximize prices, and how Wallon’s film opens a rarely seen world.