Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Can Mao—and the Chinese—Excite the Warhol Market?

March 31, 2017 by Marion Maneker

Warhol, Mao (1973) (12-15m USD)

Sunday night in Hong Kong, Sotheby’s marquee sale of Contemporary art will feature works by Cecily Brown, Keith Haring, Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara—and a $12m Andy Warhol Mao painting. Kusama, Nara and Murakami all have achieved strong market positions in both the East and West.

Chinese buyers have proved eager consumers of Western Contemporary artists in the London and New York sales. But now Sotheby’s is trying to do two things at once: bring Western Contemporary artists to Hong Kong’s sales and jump-start the dormant Warhol market.

Quartz takes this opportunity to examine the history of Warhol’s Mao paintings and the artist’s stature in China:

It is hard to overstate the influence of Andy Warhol on modern Chinese artists. “He’s such a large figure in China,” says Alexandra Seno, Head of Development at Hong Kong’s Asia Art Archives, “also because Warhol’s idea that art is good business is so embraced by contemporary Chinese artists, it really resonates.”

A Warhol portrait of Mao is going up for auction on Chinese soil (Quartz)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Takashi Murakami, with a Retrospective Opening in Russia, Still Wants Recognition in His Homeland Takashi Murakami, with a Retrospective Opening in Russia, Still Wants Recognition in His Homeland 
  • Is Tepid Hong Kong Sale of Warhol’s Mao a Sign of the Chinese Market’s Lack of Interest?Is Tepid Hong Kong Sale of Warhol’s Mao a Sign of the Chinese Market’s Lack of Interest?
  • Murakami’s Miss Ko2 Tests Market at Sotheby’s HKMurakami’s Miss Ko2 Tests Market at Sotheby’s HK
  • Sotheby’s Adds $12m Mao to Hong Kong Contemporary Sale in AprilSotheby’s Adds $12m Mao to Hong Kong Contemporary Sale in April
  • Sotheby’s Hong Kong Mod & Cont Asian = $126mSotheby’s Hong Kong Mod & Cont Asian = $126m
  • Golden Week in Hong Kong = $735m in Art AuctionedGolden Week in Hong Kong = $735m in Art Auctioned

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Hong-Kong, Sotheby's

About Marion Maneker

LiveArt

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor
 

Loading Comments...