BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 concluded with a strong showing from Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery, which reported significant sales across its carefully curated selection of modern and contemporary works.

The booth drew steady attention throughout the fair, featuring standout pieces from celebrated artists such as Alex Katz, Roy Lichtenstein, Georg Baselitz, Daniel Richter, and Robert Rauschenberg. With collectors engaging in measured but confident acquisitions, several key works found new homes.

1. Roy Lichtenstein’s Water Lily Pond with Reflections (1992)

Among the highlights was Roy Lichtenstein’s Water Lily Pond with Reflections (1992), which sold for an impressive $1.5 million. The piece, a striking example of Lichtenstein’s signature Ben-Day dot technique, reinterprets Monet’s famous water lily series through the lens of pop art. 

2. Georg Baselitz’s Luise, Lilo, Franz und Johannes (2010)

Baselitz’s upside-down compositions continue to captivate the global art market, and Luise, Lilo, Franz und Johannes was no exception. Inspired by Otto Dix’s 1924 portrait The Artist’s Parents II, this 2010 painting blends abstraction and figuration, stripping the subject of its traditional context. A European collector secured the work for €1.2 million.

3. Alex Katz’s Ada by the Sea (1999)

Alex Katz’s Ada by the Sea (1999) also found a buyer for $900,000. A stunning portrait of Katz’s wife, Ada, the piece exemplifies his minimalist yet cinematic approach to portraiture. The clean lines and flat planes of color create a sense of timeless elegance, making it a desirable addition to any collection of post-war American art.

4. Daniel Richter’s Attack on Planet Hybris (2024)

Daniel Richter’s Attack on Planet Hybris is a vivid portrayal of anthropomorphic figures set against a prismatic background. The piece reflects the artist’s punk-inspired roots, combining gestural smudges, rapid brushstrokes, and dripping paint. Fetching €420,000, the sale highlights Richter’s growing influence and the increasing demand for contemporary figurative expressionism.

5. Robert Rauschenberg’s Original artwork for First International Festival of Asian Film (1989)

Rauschenberg’s Original artwork for First International Festival of Asian Film (1989) found a buyer at $200,000. This historically significant piece reflects Rauschenberg’s global engagement with the arts, incorporating his signature layering of imagery and text. As one of the pioneers of post-war American art, Rauschenberg’s works continue to hold strong appeal for institutions and private collectors alike.

The overall sales at Thaddaeus Ropac’s booth reflect a continued appetite for established names in the art market. While buyers approached acquisitions with discernment, the demand for museum-quality works remained strong. The success of the booth highlights the resilience of the Asian art market, reaffirming Hong Kong’s role as a global hub for contemporary and modern art.

With solid results across the board, Thaddaeus Ropac’s presence at Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 proved to be a highlight of the fair, cementing its position as a key player in the international art scene.

*All Images: The Artist. Courtesy Thaddaeus Ropac gallery, London, Paris, Salzburg, Seoul, Milan