GERHARD RICHTER LEADS PHILLIPS’ HONG KONG SALES OF MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART
Museum-Quality Works by Chinese Video Art Pioneer Zhang Peili Achieve Outstanding Results
Western Post-War Masters Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, Alongside Contemporary Voices Atsushi Kaga and Lauren Quin, Ignite Competitive Bidding and Deliver Outstanding Results
Evening Sale Total: HK$52,654,200/ US$6,713,411 (Sold by Value: 96%; Sold by Lot: 94%)
Modern & Contemporary Art Sale Total: HK$41,817,930/ US$5,331,786(Sold by Value: 80%; Sold by Lot: 79%)
COMBINED TOTAL for the Sales on 30 September 2026: HK$94,472,130/US$12,045,197
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Auctioneer Henry Highley selling lot 7, Gehard Richter’s Abstraktes Bild (522-1) |
Dina Zhang, Head of Modern & Contemporary Art, China, Phillips, said: “This season’s Evening Sale was led by exceptional works spanning post-war and contemporary art, underscoring the continued demand for pieces with outstanding provenance and historical significance. Gerhard Richter’s Abstraktes Bild (522-1), a superb example from his celebrated ‘Wild Abstracts’ period and one of the defining achievements of postwar painting, led the sale at over HK$23 million/US$2.9 million. Zao Wou-Ki’s Sans titre (La Théière), a rare early painting distinguished by its remarkable provenance and exhibition history, also delivered a solid result, selling for over HK$11 million/ US$1.4 million. We were particularly encouraged by the strong reception of two important works by Zhang Peili, a pioneering figure in Chinese video art. Yellow, Blue and Red, from the artist’s iconic Bodybuilding series and related to the body of work presented at the 1993 Venice Biennale, and Just for You, the groundbreaking ten-channel video installation created for the 1999 Venice Biennale, both attracted significant interest and delivered strong results.”
Rebecca Hu, Head of Sale, Modern & Contemporary Art, Phillips Hong Kong, said: “We also saw robust demand for Western post-war masters, highlighted by Marc Chagall’s Bouquet sur fond orange, which achieved HK$3.6 million/US$460,530, more than doubling its pre-sale estimate. A notable group of ceramics by Pablo Picasso achieved a 100% sell-through rate and significantly surpassed their pre-sale estimates, reaffirming collectors’ enduring appreciation for works by the most influential figures of the 20th century. Strong results for leading Japanese artists, including Yayoi Kusama, Ayako Rokkaku, Atsushi Kaga, and Izumi Kato, further reinforced collectors’ enthusiasm for Japanese art today, making us especially excited to present KYŌBAI: The Japan Edit this December, a cross-category auction celebrating the very best of Japanese creativity and craftsmanship.”
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