From September 26 to 27, 2025, Christie's Hong Kong 20/21 Century Evening and Day Sales successfully concluded with a total transaction volume of over HK$817 million, a transaction rate of 96%, a total hammer price of 121% of the low estimate, and 51% of the lots were sold above the high estimate.

Picasso's masterpiece "Bust of a Woman" was sold at a high price of HK$196,750,000 / US$25,404,911, leading the auction.The sale set a new auction record for the artist in Asia and ranked among the top six worldwide in the 20th and 21st century auction results for the year.

Collectors from 32 countries across five continents actively participated in the auction, with strong participation from Asia and a particularly strong contribution from Greater China. The number of new buyers continued to grow year-on-year, with 20% of buyers participating in a Christie's auction for the first time, over half of whom were millennials.

The auction saw strong performance across the price range, with the day sale demonstrating a vibrant market with a 97% sell-through rate and a hammer price exceeding the low estimate by a staggering 136%.

• 21st Century Day Sale65 lots, totaling HK$107.6 million, with a total sell-through rate of 94%;
• 20th Century Day Sale79 lots, totaling HK$144 million, with a total sell-through rate of 96%;
• 20th and 21st Century Evening Sale38 lots, totaling HK$565.4 million, with a total sell-through rate of 92%

Cristian Albu, Deputy Chairman of Christie’s Asia Pacific and Head of 20th and 21st Century Art, said:“This season’s exceptional results are a testament to Christie’s leadership in the 20th and 21st century art market in Asia, and demonstrate our exceptional approach to lot selection, pricing strategies, and market cultivation.Picasso's masterpiece sparked heated bidding among collectors.Breaking the artist's Asian auction record,All Chinese modern art works, represented by Zao Wou-Ki's masterpieces, were sold"The spectacular sales showcased the international diversity and exceptional quality of the works presented in this season's evening and day sales, attracting enthusiastic bids from collectors worldwide. I am incredibly proud of the Christie's team for delivering such an exceptional auction season this autumn."

Sin-Hang Ho, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific and Deputy Head of 20th and 21st Century Art at Christie’s, said:“We are deeply encouraged by the enthusiastic response from collectors around the world.Greater China leads the Asian market with particularly strong contributions, demonstrating the region's strong resilienceWe carefully curated masterpieces from around the world for our auctions, while embracing the diverse artistic traditions of Asia, with works by Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, Japanese, and Korean artists achieving 100% sell-through.”

Christie's 21st Century Day Sale

At 16:30 on September 27, 2025, Christie’s “21st Century Day Sale” was held as scheduled in Hong Kong.The total transaction amount of 65 lots in this auction reached HK$107.6 million, with a total transaction rate of 94%, of which 40% of the lots were sold above the estimated price and 46% of the lots were sold within the estimated price.Yayoi Kusama's "Pumpkin (C)" was sold for HK$21.24 million, becoming the highest-priced painting in the auction.

New Record:
Long Jiasheng set a new personal record for artists;
Several artists, including Eva Helen Padre and Nishimura Yu, set new second-highest prices for artists;
Emma McIntyre, Pakho Chan, and Ye Youhuo, among others, set new records for the third highest price paid to an artist;
 

A total of 2 million-level auction items were bornAmong them, Yayoi Kusama's "Pumpkin (C)" was sold for HK$21.24 million and Yoshitomo Nara's "Mumps" was sold for HK$10.16 million.

A total of 20 million-level auction items were bornAmong them, George Condo's "Diva" was sold for HK$9.525 million, Yayoi Kusama's "Infinity Net [Hoawd]" was sold for HK$7.62 million, and Yayoi Kusama's "Black Butterfly" was sold for HK$5.842 million.

TOP1 transaction in this session:

Yayoi Kusama's "Pumpkin (C)" was sold for HK$17 million, plus HK$21.24 million in commission.

TOP2 transactions in this session:

Yoshitomo Nara's "Mumps" was sold for HK$8 million, plus HK$10.16 million in commission.

TOP3 transactions in this session:

George Condo's "Diva" was sold for HK$7.5 million, plus commission for HK$9.525 million.

Several artists set new auction records

Other lots sold:

In addition to the three most expensive lots, the auction also included many excellent works by Chinese and Western artists, including Yayoi Kusama, Alex Katz, Christine Ay-Tzu, Zhang Xiaogang, Izumi Kato, and Zeng Fanzhi.

For more details on the auction items, please click on the special session

Christie's 20th Century Day Sale

At 1:30 pm on September 27, 2025, Christie’s “20th Century Day Sale” was held as scheduled in Hong Kong.The total transaction amount of 79 lots in this auction reached HK$143 million, with a total transaction rate of 96%, of which 65% of the lots were sold above the estimated price and 30% of the lots were sold within the estimated price.David Hockney's "Painting No. 12 in the 'Very New' series" was sold for HK$27.34 million, becoming the top seller of the auction.

New Record:
Many artists, including Sawasdee Tandi Sukh and Charod Nimsam, set new personal records;
Many artists, including Muntian⸱Buenma, Chachai⸱Puipiyya, and Champot⸱Apa⸱In, set new second-highest prices for artists;
 

A total of 2 million-level auction items were bornAmong them, David Hockney's "Twelfth Painting in the "Very New" Series" was sold for HK$27.34 million, and Zao Wou-Ki's "Bridge and Flowing Water" was sold for HK$13.92 million.

A total of 29 million-level auction items were producedAmong them, Marc Chagall's "Painter and Red Horse" was sold for HK$8.255 million, Kazuo Shiraga's "T 51" was sold for HK$6.985 million, Chu Teh-Chun's "30.6.1981" was sold for HK$6.35 million, Wu Guanzhong's "Water Town" was sold for HK$5.842 million, Barbara Hepworth's "Double Form (January 1967)" was sold for HK$4.445 million, Fan Guanghou's "Tokyo Pagoda" was sold for HK$3.556 million, and Chu Teh-Chun's "Reflections of Spring" was sold for HK$3.429 million.

TOP1 transaction in this session:

David Hockney's "Painting No. 12 in the 'Very New' series" was sold for HK$22 million, plus premium for HK$27.34 million.

TOP2 transactions in this session:

Zao Wou-Ki's "Bridge and Flowing Water" was sold for HK$11 million, plus commission of HK$13.92 million.

TOP3 transactions in this session:

Marc Chagall's "The Painter with the Red Horse" was sold for HK$6.5 million, plus commission for HK$8.255 million.

Several artists set new auction records

Other lots sold:

In addition to the top three most expensive lots, the auction also included many excellent works by Chinese and Western artists, including Kazuo Shiraga, Chu Teh-Chun, Wu Guanzhong, Barbara Hepworth, Fan Guanghou, and Joseph Mallord William Turner.

Please continue to follow ArtPro for more latest developments in the global art market.

For more details on the auction items, please click on the special session

Christie's 20th & 21st Century Evening Sale

At 19:00 on September 26, 2025, Christie’s “20th and 21st Century Evening Sale” was held as scheduled in Hong Kong.The total transaction amount of 38 lots in this auction reached HK$566 million, with a total transaction rate of 92%.Among them, 37% of the lots were sold above the estimated price, and 47% were sold within the estimated price.Pablo Picasso's "Bust of a Woman" sold for HK$197 million, becoming the top lot of the auction. A total of nine lots sold for over HK$10 million and 24 lots sold for over HK$1 million.

That night,The sales of international blue-chip artists were the highlight of the night.,

Two works by Pablo Picasso were sold for a total of HK$229.2 million.Among them, "Bust of a Woman" was sold for HK$197 million, and Pablo Picasso's "Nude Reclining on a Cushion" was sold for HK$32.22 million;

Claude Monet"Spring in Giverny in Afternoon Light" was sold for HK$37.1 million;

Two works by Yayoi Kusama were sold for a total of HK$46.725 million.Among them, "Pumpkin [Twaqn]" was sold for HK$34.66 million, and Yayoi Kusama's "Flying to the Universe - Polka Dot Pumpkin (Vermilion)" was sold for HK$12.065 million.

New Record:
Walter Spies sets a new record for the second highest price paid for an artist;
Several artists, including Shawo and Xue Song, set new records for the third highest price paid by an artist;
 

A total of 9 auction items worth tens of millions of yuan were producedAmong them, Zao Wou-Ki's "17.3.63" was sold for HK$85.2 million, Walter Spies' "Pagoda by the Lake" was sold for HK$26.12 million, George Condo's "Reclining Blue Form" was sold for HK$18.19 million, and Marc Chagall's "Flowers or Bouquet for Lovers" was sold for HK$15.14 million.

TOP1 transaction in this session:

Pablo Picasso's "Bust of a Woman" was sold for HK$167 million, plus HK$197 million in commission, and was won by bidder No. 8024.

TOP2 transactions in this session:

Zao Wou-Ki's "17.3.63" was sold for HK$70 million, plus commission for HK$85.2 million, and was won by bidder No. 8046.

This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by the Zao Wou-Ki Foundation on September 22, 2015. This work has been registered in the Zao Wou-Ki Foundation's archive (Data provided by the Zao Wou-Ki Foundation)

TOP3 transactions in this session:

Claude Monet's "Spring at Giverny in the Afternoon Light" was sold for HK$30 million, plus HK$37.1 million in commission, and was won by bidder No. 8070.

This work was created in 1885 and was on long-term loan from the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida, from 1979 to 2017.

Other lots sold:

In addition to the three most expensive lots, the auction also included many excellent works by Chinese and Western artists, including Yayoi Kusama, Pablo Picasso, Walter Spies, George Condo, Marc Chagall, Zeng Fanzhi, and others.

Please continue to follow ArtPro for more latest developments in the global art market.

For more details on the auction items, please click on the special session