Press | Phillips

PHILLIPS’ MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART EVENING SALE IN HONG KONG ACHIEVES HK$160 Million/ US$20.5 Million

Yoshitomo Nara’s Pinky Leads Auction at HK$56.6 Million/ US$7.2 Million

New Record Achieved for Jean-Michel Othoniel

Phillips Asia Chairman and Auctioneer Jonathan Crockett selling lot 11, Yoshitomo Nara’s Pinky

Hong Kong, 27 September 2025 | Sale Total: HK$159,961,800/ US$20,555,091

Lots Sold: 20 | Lots Offered: 20

Sold by Lot: 100% | Sold by Value: 100%

Meiling Lee, Head of Modern & Contemporary Art, Asia, said: "In a more measured market, we have remained focused and adaptable—curating thoughtful sales and delivering solid results for our clients, culminating in a 100% sell-through rate. Nearly two-thirds of the Evening Sale comprised fresh-to-market works, underscoring our commitment to presenting exceptional material of the highest quality. Leading the auction was Yoshitomo Nara’s Pinky, painted in the artist’s watershed year of 2000, which achieved over HK$56 million / US$7.2 million. Women artists saw particularly robust demand, highlighted by Yayoi Kusama’s INFINITY-NETS (SFOOUY), which realised HK$12.7 million / US$1.64 million. Ruth Asawa’s Untitled S.013, marking her Hong Kong auction debut, sold for more than HK$4.1 million / US$530,448—1.87 times its pre-sale estimate. Works by Miriam Cahn and Firenze Lai also sparked competitive bidding, selling well above their high estimates. Demand for 20th-century masters remained strong, with Zao Wou-Ki’s monumental canvas, celebrated for its international exhibition history, achieving HK$29.8 million / US$3.82 million, while Pablo Picasso’s Femme nue allongée realised 1.5 times its pre-sale high estimate."

TOP 10 LOTS

Lot	Description	Estimate	Price Achieved
11	Yoshitomo Nara, Pinky, 2000	HK$35,000,000 - 55,000,000 US$4,490,000 - 7,050,000	HK$56,645,000 US$7,278,883
16	Zao Wou-Ki, 27.01.86, 1986	HK$30,000,000 - 40,000,000 US$3,850,000 - 5,130,000	HK$29,805,000 US$3,829,943
9	Tom Wesselmann, Smoker #17, 1975	HK$13,000,000 - 20,000,000 US$1,670,000 - 2,560,000	HK$13,945,000 US$1,791,933
10	Yayoi Kusama, INFINITY-NETS (SFOOUY), 2017	HK$10,000,000 - 15,000,000 US$1,280,000 - 1,920,000	HK$12,725,000 US$1,635,163
22	Yoshitomo Nara, Untitled, 1990	HK$10,000,000 - 15,000,000 US$1,280,000 - 1,920,000	HK$11,505,000 US$1,478,393
21	Zeng Fanzhi, Mask Series 1999 No. 2, 1999	HK$10,000,000 - 15,000,000 US$1,280,000 - 1,920,000	HK$10,285,000 US$1,321,623
5	Ruth Asawa, Untitled S.013 (Hanging Single-Lobed, Five-Layer Continuous Form within a Form), 1987	HK$2,200,000 - 4,200,000 US$282,000 - 538,000	HK$4,128,000 US$530,448
6	Lucas Arruda, Untitled (from the series Deserto-Modelo), 2013	HK$2,400,000 - 3,600,000 US$308,000 - 462,000	HK$3,096,000 US$397,836
19	Hao Liang, Butterfly City, 2010	HK$3,800,000 - 5,800,000 US$487,000 - 744,000	HK$2,838,000 US$364,683
8	Andy Warhol, Hearts Pink, 1982	HK$1,600,000 - 2,400,000 US$205,000 - 308,000	HK$2,193,000 US$281,801
12	Izumi Kato, Untitled, 2022	HK$1,000,000 - 2,000,000 US$128,000 - 256,000	HK$2,193,000 US$281,801

New Auction Records

Lot

Description

Estimate

Price Achieved

Jean-Michel Othoniel, Black Tornado, 2017

HK$1,000,000 - 2,000,000
US$128,000 - 256,000

HK$1,677,000

US$215,495

*previous record price: US$152,400, May 2025

Exchange Rate on 27 September 2025: HK$1= US$0.1285

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ABOUT PHILLIPS

Phillips: where the world’s curious and bold connect with the art, design and luxury that inspires them. As a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century works, Phillips offers dedicated expertise in the areas of Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewelry. Auctions and exhibitions are primarily held in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, with representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States and Asia. Phillips offers a regular selection of live and online auctions, along with items available for immediate purchase. Phillips also offers a range of services and advice on all aspects of collecting, including private sales and assistance with appraisals, valuations, and financial planning. Visit phillips.com for further information.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.

PRESS CONTACTS:

HONG KONG – Ingrid Hsu, Head of PR and Corporate Communications, Asia Ingridhsu@phillips.com

PHILLIPS NEW YORK – 432 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022

PHILLIPS LONDON – 30 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6EX

PHILLIPS HONG KONG – G/F, WKCDA Tower, West Kowloon Cultural District, No. 8 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong

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