2025
Jan Davidsz. De Heem鈥檚 luxurious and immaculately preserved still life will be a highlight of Christie鈥檚 Old Masters Evening Sale on 1 July, during Classic Week London (estimate: 拢3,000,000-5,000,000).
As Art Basel Hong Kong drew to a close on March 30, all eyes turned to the major auction houses, where both Christie鈥檚 and Sotheby鈥檚 had aligned their spring marquee sales with the fair for the first time.
Christie鈥檚 will begin its first Hong Kong Asian Art Week in 2025 with two carefully curated sales: Fine Chinese Classical Paintings and Calligraphy on 31 April, and Fine Chinese Modern and Contemporary Ink Paintings on 1 May.
Across the three major houses, bidding signaled a clear shift in tastes toward cultural significance, institutional validation and long-term value.
Art sellers said it was a 'strong move' to line up major spring sales with Art Basel Hong Kong.
Both auctions represent significant decreases from previous sales seasons, but strong sell-through rates and increased bidding from mainland China indicate signs of recovery.
By Friday, as art professionals started picking up flights out of Hong Kong, the narrative for this year鈥檚 edition of Art Basel Hong Kong, and the surrounding art week, was pretty much set.
Jean-Michel Basquiat's S谩bado por la Noche (Saturday Night), a piece that symbolizes a pivotal moment in the career of the New York born and raised artist, was sold at a Christie's auction in Hong Kong.
The first auction held by Christie鈥檚 at its new Asia headquarters in The Henderson building in Hong Kong last September was a buoyant affair, carried by excitement for the glitzy locale, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.
As mainland Chinese art buying continues its post-pandemic contraction, Christie鈥檚 and Sotheby鈥檚 are pivoting from聽ultra-contemporary Western artists towards tried-and-tested 19th- and 20th-century big hitters.
Christie鈥檚 will present Ravishing Blue: Imperial Porcelains from an Important Private Collection, a dedicated, single-owner collection auction on 2 May 2025 during Hong Kong Asian Art Week at Christie鈥檚 Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson.
A leading highlight of the 20th/21st Century Evening Sale in Hong Kong this March, Jean-Michel Basquiat鈥檚 Sabado por la Noche captures his signature style and marks a defining moment in his career.
A night to remember: Basquiat's Saturday Night takes centre stage at Christie's Hong Kong Evening Sale.
Jean-Michel Basquiat "Sabado Por la Noche" Estimated to Auction for $16 Million USD The painting leads Christie鈥檚 Hong Kong sale.
A punchy hot pink and maroon painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat will be the top lot at Christie鈥檚 upcoming 20th/21st century evening sale in Hong Kong on March 28.