A 1964 painting by Pablo Picasso, 'Le peintre et son modèle,' sold for approximately $4.05 million at the VIP preview of Art Basel Hong Kong 2026. The sale, conducted by gallery BASTIAN, led a wave of early transactions across various price points and media as the fair opened its 13th edition.
The high-value sale signals strong market confidence and robust collector attendance at Asia's premier art fair, reinforcing Hong Kong's pivotal role in the global art market. The successful preview, with participation from international collectors and institutional leaders, indicates a healthy and active art market in the region despite broader economic uncertainties.