Zao Wou-Ki Painting Leads Highlights for Christie’s Autumn Sale in Hong Kong
An emblematic red painting by Zao Wou‑Ki is expected to top sales with an estimate upwards of $9 million ahead of the celebrated artist’s survey at M+ this winter, alongside works by Yayoi Kusama, Walter Spies, and Tamara de Lempicka. Save to My Ocula
A fiery painting by Zao Wou-Ki that ‘stands as a testament to his mastery of abstraction’ will headline Christie’s modern and contemporary sale in Hong Kong, which will be held at its Asia headquarters at the Henderson for a second year this autumn.
On Wednesday, Christie’s revealed the first details of its 20th/21st Century evening sale in Hong Kong, which will see the debut of 17.3.63 (1963)—a red painting by Zao Wou-Ki from a prolific period that saw the artist rise to international acclaim, on 26 September.
The work, estimated at $9–12 million (all figures USD), is one of 19 red paintings the artist made and was included in his first retrospective at Museum Folkwang in Essen in 1965.
Zao was the third highest selling artist at the house’s inaugural evening sale in Hong Kong last autumn—alongside headlining lots by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet—with 05.06.80 - TRIPTYQUE (1980) netting $12 million with fees.
Hong Kong has facilitated most of the Beijing-born, Paris-based artist’s highs, including his latest record, with Juin-Octobre 1985 (1985) selling for $65 million in 2018.
The China Academy of Art in Hangzhou hosted the artist’s centennial survey last year, while Hong Kong’s M+ has announced another retrospective for winter 2025.
The sale at its headquarters at the Henderson on 26 September will include Yayoi Kusama’s yellow pumpkins (estimated at $2.9–4.1 million), a Walter Spies landscape (estimated at $2.6–3.8 million), alongside works by Kazuo Shiraga, Tamara de Lempicka, and Zeng Fanzhi.
The auction will be followed by separate sales dedicated to Chinese ceramics and paintings in October, and luxury items and wine in November. —[O]
Main image: Zao Wou-Ki, 17.3.63 (1963) (detail). Oil on canvas. 130 x 97.2 cm. Courtesy Christie's.
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