Yoshitomo Nara’s Baby Blue Leads Auction at HK$45 Million/ US$5.8Million, With New World Auction Record Set for Li Hei Di

Meiling Lee, Head of Modern & Contemporary Art, Asia, and Lihua Tung, Head of Department, Hong Kong, Modern & Contemporary Art , said : “This November, our team curated a well-balanced Evening Sale, showcasing a remarkable selection of both Modern masters and highly sought-after Contemporary names. Leading the auction was Yoshitomo Nara’s Baby Blue, which fetched over HK$45 million/US$5.8million, making it the most expensive work by the artist sold at auction this season. Additionally, Nara’s only motori sed sculpture, Fountain of Life , sold for over HK$10 million/US$1.3million, further solidifying Phillips’ position as a leading auction house for Yoshitomo Nara in recent years.

We are especially grateful to have been entrusted with the sale of significant works by Modern masters, such as Sanyu’s Reclining Nude, with Raised Knee II, from the esteemed Collection of Doctor Eric Edwards in Paris, which sold for nearly HK$43 million/US$5.5million. Since establishing our Asia headquarters in Hong Kong last year, we have broadened our focus to include more artists from the Asian region in our auctions. This includes showcasing emerging Asian talents , such as Li Hei Di , whose Orange Swim set anew record for the artist at over HK$1.2million/US$154,432, nearly quadrupling its pre-sale estimate. We were also delighted to feature the debut of Korean artist Moka Lee, whose I’m Not Like Me sold for over HK$1.6million/US$211,328, achieving four times its pre-sale estimate. Phillips continues to achieve remarkable results for young international artists, with works by Claire Tabouret, Kohei Nawa, and Ulala Imai all selling above their pre-sale high estimates. ”

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Top 10 Lots

New Auction Records

(Press Release)