Modern & Contemporary Southeast Asian Art

S outheast Asian Art reflects the region’s distinctive histories, cultures and lived experiences. Each work—whether Indo‑European, Indonesian, Singaporean, Malaysian, Thai, Filipino or Vietnamese—carries its own narrative, and together these voices form a vibrant, multi‑layered portrait of Southeast Asia’s artistic identity.

Sotheby’s has played a defining role in elevating this category on the global stage. After launching the first biannual sale of Southeast Asian Art in Singapore in 1996, the auctions moved to Hong Kong in 2008 in response to rising international demand. Over the past two decades, a new generation of Southeast Asian artists has emerged, and Sotheby’s continues to champion these voices through exhibitions, market leadership and global visibility.

Our specialist teams in Hong Kong and Singapore have achieved record‑breaking results for the most sought‑after works in the field, bringing to market exceptional pieces by Hendra Gunawan, Lee Man Fong, Affandi, Ronald Ventura, Ay Tjoe Christine, Fernando Zóbel and Handiwirman Saputra. Their continued success underscores Sotheby’s position at the forefront of the Southeast Asian art market in 2026.

Major sales of Southeast Asian Art take place in Hong Kong each March/April and September/October, offering collectors unparalleled access to the region’s most significant works.