Charlie Mackesy’s ‘Look How Far We’ve Come’ Exhibition at Sotheby’s

When Charlie Mackesy, the British illustrator and author behind the global sensation The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, unveiled his Christmas‑time selling exhibition, the art world took a collective breath.

Dubbed Look How Far We’ve Come34–35 New Bond Street, London, the show ran from 16 December 2022 through 15 January 2023 at Sotheby's. It wasn’t just a pretty display – it was a market event, a chance for collectors to own a piece of the book’s creative process.

Historical backdrop: From Jubilee to Christmas

Earlier in 2022, Sotheby’s celebrated the Queen’s Jubilee with an exhibition called We are all a Work in Progress, also featuring Mackesy’s sketches. That debut set the tone: a blend of philanthropy, mental‑health advocacy, and high‑end sales. The new show built on that momentum, highlighting over 60 original ink and watercolor working drawings that Mackesy produced while drafting his best‑selling fable.

Exhibition details and logistics

Visitors could stroll the gallery on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on weekends from noon to 5 p.m., with a brief holiday shutdown from 24 December 2022 to 3 January 2023. The exhibition was coordinated by two Sotheby’s specialists: Helen Culver Smith (tel: +44 207 293 6381) and Kira Gurmail‑Kaufmann (tel: +44 207 293 5515). Their job was to blend the artistic narrative with the commercial flow – a delicate dance of storytelling and bidding.

What made the drawings special?

Each piece was a “working drawing”: a sketch that never left Mackesy’s studio, now framed and ready for purchase. The delicate watercolor washes and fine ink lines give a rare glimpse into how the iconic characters evolved, from rough silhouettes to the tender figures we now see on hospital walls and subway cars worldwide. For many buyers, owning one of these works feels like a private handshake with the creator.

Mental‑health resonance

In a time when societies are wrestling with anxiety and burnout, the exhibition’s catalogue stressed that Mackesy’s stories act as “a reminder of the importance of kindness”. Critics noted that the simple, almost childlike art carries a therapeutic weight. Dr. Aisha Patel, a psychologist at King’s College London, told The Guardian that “visual narratives like Mackesy’s can trigger dopamine releases similar to reading a comforting story, which is why the exhibition resonated beyond art collectors.”

Visitor experience: The Story Café takeover

Beyond the walls, Sotheby’s turned its on‑site Story Café into an immersive wonderland. Guests could sip tea while leafing through oversized prints of the four beloved characters. The café even offered a “draw‑your‑own‑mole” station, encouraging families to engage creatively. Reviewers on TripAdvisor called the space “a living illustration” and praised the seamless merge of commerce and community.

Future events and Mackesy’s expanding footprint

Even after the exhibition closed, Mackesy’s calendar remains packed. He is slated to host a book‑signing for his upcoming title ALWAYS REMEMBER at Barnes & Noble Union Square in New York on 6 November 2025, and an “Evening of Drawing, Music and Stories” at Barbican Hall, London, on 1 December 2025. Those dates underscore how his brand has migrated from printed pages to global cultural venues.

Why this matters for the art market

For Sotheby’s, the exhibition was a financial win – the pieces sold collectively for an estimated £2.3 million, a figure that outstripped most single‑artist shows in the past year. More importantly, it demonstrated a viable model: combine socially resonant content with high‑value sales. Other auction houses are already scouting similar “story‑driven” exhibitions, hoping to capture the same blend of heart and profit.