The international art world experienced significant developments over the weekend, highlighted by a record-breaking auction at Sotheby's Hong Kong and the passing of acclaimed German actor Udo Kier. A collection of 125 masterworks from Japan's Okada Museum of Art achieved complete sell-through status, bringing in $88 million and setting new auction records for prominent Japanese artists.
The Sotheby's Hong Kong sale on Saturday delivered what the auction house calls a "white-glove" result, meaning every single lot found a buyer. The collection, originally estimated to exceed $50 million, was consigned by Kazuo Okada, the museum's founder, who needed to settle a $50 million legal bill stemming from his prolonged dispute with casino magnate Steve Wynn. Both men are 83 years old, and Okada formerly served as chairman of Tokyo-based Universal Entertainment Corp.
Nicolas Chow, Sotheby's Asia chairman and worldwide head of Asian art, described the collection as "the most significant collection of East Asian art to come to auction in recent memory." The evening's top lot was Kitagawa Utamaro's "Fukagawa in Snow," painted in the early 19th century, which sold to a Japanese private collector for $7.1 million after attracting more than 30 bids. Hokusai's iconic "The Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa" (1830-32) nearly tripled its high estimate, selling for $2.8 million to another Japanese private collector.
The auction results were particularly impressive, with 19 of the 125 works selling for more than $1.2 million each. The strong performance reflects continued international appetite for high-quality East Asian art, particularly when offered from prestigious institutional collections. The proceeds will help resolve Okada's financial obligations related to his legal battle with Wynn.
In legislative news, Canada's minority Liberal government achieved a significant victory for visual artists by passing its November 17 budget, which includes a commitment to introduce artist resale rights. The measure, which had failed in a similar 2022 proposal, would grant artists royalties when their works are resold through auction houses or galleries. This development brings Canada in line with more than 90 countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, that already mandate resale royalties typically set at 5 percent.
April Britski, executive director of arts nonprofit Carfac, welcomed the policy as offering "long-overdue financial recognition for artists, many of whom earn very low incomes despite major cultural contributions." The change is considered especially important for Indigenous artists, who have frequently faced exploitation in the secondary market. The successful push follows two decades of lobbying by organizations including Carfac, RAAV, and cultural leaders such as former senator Patricia Bovey.
Camille Cazin from RAAV emphasized that the measure "acknowledges the value of artists' work and will improve their living conditions." Cory Dingle, who oversees the Norval Morrisseau estate, added that resale royalties will help preserve artists' legacies, fund cultural education, and support institutions that rely on artworks for teaching and inspiration.
The art world also mourned the loss of Udo Kier, the legendary German actor who became synonymous with arthouse cinema, particularly through his starring role in Andy Warhol's "Frankenstein." Kier passed away at age 81, leaving behind a distinctive career that spanned decades and included collaborations with some of cinema's most innovative directors. His death represents the end of an era for experimental and independent filmmaking.
In other notable auction news, a rare Superman comic book discovered by three brothers while cleaning their late mother's California loft set a new world record. The June 1939 copy of "Superman #1," found hidden beneath old newspapers in a cardboard box, sold for $9.12 million after being graded 9.0 out of 10 by CGC, surpassing the previous record grade of 8.5. Heritage Auctions handled the sale and called the discovery "the pinnacle of comic collecting."
The brothers, now in their 50s and 60s, had heard their mother claim she owned valuable comics throughout their lives, though she never showed them the collection. She had purchased the books with her brother between the Great Depression and the start of World War II, and the cool Northern California climate helped preserve their remarkable condition. The discovery of six vintage comics in total transformed the brothers' lives, with the Superman issue proving to be the crown jewel of the collection.
