Sotheby's said Tuesday the record price for "Onement VI" includes the buyer's premium.
The painting is the last of six in Newman's Onement series. They're characterized by what's called the zip, a distinctive stripe running down the center of the canvas. Four are in museum collections.
"Onement V" sold at auction last year for $22.4 million, the artist's previous auction record.
Newman was an exhibitions organizer of the newly opened Betty Parson Gallery in 1946. He played a vital role in the careers of Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock and others. He also influenced the next generation of artists including Frank Stella.
Newman died in 1970.
