Basquiat's Ancient Scientist Leads the Autumn Auction Season in Asia Selling for US$9.8M
On 29 September 2026, Christie's opened its Autumn season in Asia with the Hong Kong 20th/21st Century Evening Sale, achieving US$92,589,911, up 28% year-on-year.
The auction was led by Jean-Michel Basquiat's Ancient Scientist, which sold for HK$76,975,000 / US$9,811,264, the most valuable work sold at auction in Asia this Autumn, with bidding from across regions.
Featuring a compelling selection of works by leading names in Eastern and Western modern and contemporary art, the Evening Sale was 100% sold by lot. The top ten lots included strong performances for works by Zao Wou-Ki, Yayoi Kusama, Paul Cézanne, Chu Teh-Chun and Liu Ye, reflecting the diversity of the sale and the breadth of collectors' interests across categories. An Old Master painting by Sir Peter Paul Rubens Landscape with Willows realised HK$19,200,000 / US$2,447,240, nearly doubling its high estimate, after returning to auction for the first time in more than 200 years. The sale sets Asia auction records for leading Western artists: Cézanne, Matisse, Dalí and Rubens.
Arco Yu, Associate Vice President, Head of Evening Sale, 20th/21st Century Art, Christie's Asia Pacific commented: “Tonight's sale attracted strong participation from collectors worldwide, with the sale total rising 28% year on year. The market responded with confidence to the quality and diversity of the works offered at the right price points. We are particularly delighted by the results achieved for Basquiat's Ancient Scientist, the highest-selling work of the Autumn auction season in Asia, alongside strong performances for Zao Wou-Ki, Kusama, Cézanne and Liu Ye. The important Day sales follow tomorrow, and we anticipate the strong pace set by collectors from across Asia and around the world this evening will continue.”
Main Image: Rahul Kadakia, Christie's President, Asia Pacific, sells Jean-Michel Basquiat's Ancient Scientist for HK$76,975,000 / US$9,811,264 from Christie's new rostrum, designed to mark Christie's 260th anniversary.