History buffs and bookworms alike clamor for the chance to attend book auctions. The scent of the pages, the smell of the old materials, and the rich textures of old ink, paper, and leather call like ancient sirens to anyone with a taste for old codices. But these amazing volumes often come with a hefty price.

When you think of art auctions, you might picture a big, dusty room filled with out-of-touch rich people mulling over the price of art pieces from the 1800s or earlier. Although old art pieces certainly have value, modern art has its place in auction houses as well. Discover some of the most popular and expensive modern art pieces sold at auctions.