Modern Art | Asia

S otheby’s Modern Art department in Asia leads the region’s rapidly expanding market for international modern and postwar art. Based in Hong Kong, the department presents a global vision of 20th‑century creativity, connecting collectors across Asia with masterworks that transcend geography. As demand for exceptional modern art continues to accelerate in 2026, Sotheby’s remains the premier destination for expertise, access and market‑defining results.

Hong Kong’s biannual Modern Art marquee auctions anchor the department’s calendar every spring and fall, complemented year‑round by private sales, curated exhibitions, themed auctions, single‑owner sales, silent auctions and a dynamic slate of online auctions. Sotheby’s has introduced major Western modern and postwar artists to Asian collectors with extraordinary success, achieving record‑setting results for Pablo Picasso, Alberto Giacometti, Pierre‑Auguste Renoir, Wassily Kandinsky, Bernard Buffet, Pierre Soulages, Georges Mathieu, Enrico Castellani and Terry Frost.

The department also leads the global market for Southeast Asian art, consistently achieving benchmark prices for Indonesian, Indo‑European, Singaporean and Filipino masters. Sotheby’s holds world records for Hendra Gunawan, Affandi, Srihadi Sudarsono, S. Sudjojono, Sudjana Kerton, Miguel Covarrubias, Chen Wen Hsi and Georgette Chen. Its leadership in Vietnamese Golden Age art is unmatched, highlighted by the 100% sold Madame Dothi Dumonteil Collection and the world‑record result for Mai Trung Thu’s Portrait de Mademoiselle Phuong, which achieved HK$24.4 million (US$3.1 million). Sotheby’s also holds records for Tran Van Ha, Vu Cao Dam and Pham Hau.

As the Asian art market continues to evolve, Sotheby’s offers collectors trusted guidance, global reach and discreet service. Our specialists would be pleased to provide a complimentary and confidential valuation.