Phillips celebrated its 10th anniversary in Asia by hosting a landmark modern and contemporary art auction in Hong Kong on September 27 and 28. The sale featured works by international and Asian artists including Yoshitomo Nara, Zao Wou-Ki, Andy Warhol, and Yayoi Kusama, achieving $28 million in total sales. Nara's painting "Pinky" (2000) led the auction at $7.2 million, followed by Zao Wou-Ki's "27.01.86" at $3.83 million and Tom Wesselman's "Smoker #17" at $1.8 million. A public preview from September 22 to 28 at Phillips' West Kowloon galleries displayed the lots.
The auction underscores Phillips' growing footprint in the Asian art market, a region increasingly vital for global auction houses. The strong performance of both Western and Asian artists, along with the sale of a rare Zao Wou-Ki work unseen for 75 years, highlights the deepening collector interest in cross-cultural modern and contemporary art. This anniversary sale signals Phillips' commitment to Asia as a key market and its ability to compete with rivals like Christie's and Sotheby's in the region.