Polka Dots Outshine the Market: Kusama’s Millions in Hong Kong’s Art Arena
A single Yayoi Kusama piece, with its signature polka dots, claimed the spotlight at Art Basel Hong Kong 2025, fetching a remarkable $3.5 million on the fair’s opening day. This headline sale set the tone for a gathering of 242 galleries from 42 countries, each navigating a market still shadowed by economic uncertainty in mainland China.
Despite the cautious mood, early transactions revealed a resilient pulse: Louise Bourgeois’s work changed hands for $2 million, while pieces by Georg Baselitz, Antony Gormley, and Cecilia Vicuña also found new homes at impressive prices. The fair’s three sections—Galleries, Discoveries, and Insights—offered a panoramic view of global creativity, with both established and emerging artists represented.
International collectors returned in greater numbers, hinting at renewed confidence and cross-border curiosity. In a city where art and commerce often dance on a knife’s edge, this year’s fair proved that even amid uncertainty, the allure of a bold canvas can still steal the show.
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