Hong Kong, 2 June 2026 - Phillips' Modern & Contemporary Art Sale in Hong Kong surpassed its pre-sale high estimate by 33 percent, realizing HK$27,022,920 (US$3,448,125). Of the 39 lots offered, 38 found buyers, for a sell-through rate of 97 percent by lot and 99 percent by value. The sale was led by outstanding performances from Matthew Wong and Lee Ufan, both of whom exceeded their high estimates, with Wong's The Recluse realizing more than HK$14 million (US$1.8 million).
Kimberley Wong, Head of Sale for Modern & Contemporary Art at Phillips, said the house was "delighted with the strong results achieved in today's Hong Kong Modern & Contemporary Art sale, which surpassed its pre-sale high estimate by 33%, underscoring the continued strength and depth of the market in Asia." She noted that buyers from Mainland China were the most active, accounting for nearly 30 percent of buyers in the sale, and that the top ten lots reflected "a compelling dialogue between modern masters and leading contemporary voices, from Lee Ufan and Chen Yifei to Yayoi Kusama, Chiharu Shiota, Diane Dal-Pra, and Claire Tabouret, demonstrating the region's diversity and dynamism in collecting." With a 97 percent sell-through rate, she added, "these results underscore our commitment to thoughtful curation," looking ahead to the house's Hong Kong marquee sales this September.
The leading lots
Matthew Wong's The Recluse (2017) provided the sale's defining moment. Brought down by auctioneer Jonathan Crockett as lot 11, it sold for HK$14,190,000 (US$1,810,644), some 1.66 times its pre-sale high estimate of HK$8,500,000. Lee Ufan's With Winds (1991) followed at HK$2,709,000 (US$345,668), more than double its high estimate, while Chen Yifei's Bridge Reflection (Suzhou) (1987) realized HK$1,032,000 (US$131,683).
Contemporary demand ran deep through the remainder of the top ten. Diane Dal-Pra's After Dinner, Before Bedtime (2021) achieved HK$838,500 (US$106,993), and Claire Tabouret's Self-portrait with George (pale) (2020) brought HK$645,000 (US$82,302). Erwin Wurm's Modernist Pickle (2016) and Chiharu Shiota's State of Being (Map) (2020) each realized HK$541,800 (US$69,134), and Walasse Ting's Old Soldier Comeback (1960) followed at HK$516,000 (US$65,842). Yayoi Kusama's Castle of Visionary Flowers (1988) reached HK$451,500 (US$58,063), and Ju Ming's Taichi Series: Sparring (1995) closed the top ten at HK$412,800 (US$52,673).
Top ten lots
| Lot | Artist and work | Estimate | Price achieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Matthew Wong, The Recluse, 2017 | HK$5,500,000 to HK$8,500,000 | HK$14,190,000 (US$1,810,644) |
| 16 | Lee Ufan, With Winds, 1991 | HK$800,000 to HK$1,200,000 | HK$2,709,000 (US$345,668) |
| 26 | Chen Yifei, Bridge Reflection (Suzhou), 1987 | HK$800,000 to HK$1,200,000 | HK$1,032,000 (US$131,683) |
| 4 | Diane Dal-Pra, After Dinner, Before Bedtime, 2021 | HK$500,000 to HK$700,000 | HK$838,500 (US$106,993) |
| 3 | Claire Tabouret, Self-portrait with George (pale), 2020 | HK$240,000 to HK$350,000 | HK$645,000 (US$82,302) |
| 37 | Erwin Wurm, Modernist Pickle, 2016 | HK$200,000 to HK$400,000 | HK$541,800 (US$69,134) |
| 18 | Chiharu Shiota, State of Being (Map), 2020 | HK$380,000 to HK$580,000 | HK$541,800 (US$69,134) |
| 17 | Walasse Ting, Old Soldier Comeback, 1960 | HK$200,000 to HK$300,000 | HK$516,000 (US$65,842) |
| 13 | Yayoi Kusama, Castle of Visionary Flowers, 1988 | HK$350,000 to HK$650,000 | HK$451,500 (US$58,063) |
| 24 | Ju Ming, Taichi Series: Sparring, 1995 | HK$350,000 to HK$550,000 | HK$412,800 (US$52,673) |
Phillips is a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century works, with dedicated expertise in Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewels. Its auctions and exhibitions are held primarily in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong.
Estimates do not include the buyer's premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer's premium. Exchange rate on 2 June 2026: HK$1 = US$0.1276.
(Press Release)
