ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Christie's Hong Kong 20th/21st Century Art Evening Sale totals HK$1.4 billion

market-auction · 2026-04-27

On May 26, 2022, Christie's Hong Kong held its 20th/21st Century Art Evening Sale, generating HK$1.4 billion (€167 million) from 59 lots, a decline from HK$1.6 billion from 73 lots in 2021. The event, despite a resurgence of COVID-19, established 11 auction records for various artists, including Adrian Ghenie and Zhang Enli. The top-selling piece was Zao Wou-Ki's 29.09.64 (1964), fetching HK$278 million (€33 million), previously sold for HK$153 million in 2017. Pablo Picasso's Buste d'homme dans un cadre (1969) from Sean Connery's collection sold for HK$175 million (€21 million), benefiting the Sean Connery Philanthropy Fund. Other notable sales included Yoshitomo Nara's Wish World Peace (2014) at HK$97 million (€10 million) and Adrian Ghenie's Pie Fight Interior 12 (2014) at HK$81 million (€9.5 million).

Key facts

  • Sale total: HK$1.4 billion (€167 million)
  • 59 lots offered
  • 11 auction records set
  • Zao Wou-Ki's 29.09.64 (1964) sold for HK$278 million (€33 million)
  • Picasso's Buste d'homme dans un cadre (1969) from Sean Connery collection sold for HK$175 million (€21 million)
  • Yoshitomo Nara's Wish World Peace (2014) sold for HK$97 million (€10 million)
  • Adrian Ghenie set new record with Pie Fight Interior 12 (2014) at HK$81 million (€9.5 million)
  • Ernie Barnes' Listen Up! (1980) achieved HK$7.6 million (€830,000)

Entities

Artists

  • Zao Wou-Ki
  • Pablo Picasso
  • Yoshitomo Nara
  • Adrian Ghenie
  • Hernan Bas
  • Zhang Enli
  • Scott Kahn
  • Firenze Lai
  • Ayako Rokkaku
  • Rhee Seundja
  • Pierre Soulages
  • Gerhard Richter
  • Ernie Barnes
  • Avery Singer
  • Hilary Pecis
  • Loie Hollowell

Institutions

  • Christie's
  • Sean Connery Philanthropy Fund
  • Artnet

Locations

  • Hong Kong
  • China
  • New York
  • United States

Sources