Christie’s Basquiat in Hong Kong: “Ancient Scientist” sells for $9.8 million as auction sells 100% of lots

Christie’s opened the autumn season in Asia with a record evening in Hong Kong: as the auction house itself announces in its official press release, the 20th/21st Century Evening Sale on September 29, 2026 reached HK$726.4 million (US$92.6 million), 28% more than a year earlier, with 100% of lots sold.

The star of the evening was Jean-Michel Basquiat: his work “Ancient Scientist” (1984) sold for HK$76,975,000 (US$9,811,264), becoming the most expensive work ever sold at auction this autumn in Asia, with bids from different regions of the world. The price exceeded the initial estimate ($7.1–9.7 million).

But the strength of the evening was not only in Western names. Zao Wou-Ki’s rare large-scale painting “Voie Lactée – 09.11.56” (1956) sold for HK$58.9 million (US$7.5 million), while Yayoi Kusama’s “pumpkin” realised HK$58.2 million (US$7.4 million). Works by Cézanne, Chu Teh-Chun and Liu Ye also entered the top ten.

The surprise of the evening came from an old master: “Landscape with Willows” by Sir Peter Paul Rubens sold for HK$19.2 million (US$2.45 million), almost double the high estimate — after returning to auction for the first time in more than 200 years. According to Christie’s, the sale set Asian auction records for Cézanne, Matisse, Dalí and Rubens.

The auction was led by Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s president for Asia-Pacific, from the new rostrum created for the auction house’s 260th anniversary. “Tonight’s sale attracted strong participation from collectors around the world, with the total 28% higher than a year ago,” said Arco Yu, vice president of evening sales for Asia. Christie’s also marks this year the 40th anniversary of its presence in Asia; the day sales continued on September 30.