By Salome Zaalishvili
Yoshitomo Nara, one of the most famous and beloved Japanese artists first became known to a wider public in the 1990s. This is the period when he developed his signature style after finishing studies in Germany and settling there.
Prices for his work in the 90s already ranged from $60,000 to $250,000, but it isn’t until he moved back to Japan in the early 2000s that his work started to steadily rise in price.
Knife behind back (2000)
The most expensive piece by Nora is a painting titled Knife behind back which was sold for $24.9 million by Sotheby’s in 2019. Second most expensive piece, Missing in Action, was sold shortly after in 2021 by Phillips, with a hammer price of $15.9 million.
Missing in Action (2000)
Yoshitomo Nara today
Yoshitomo’s work has been having a successful auction week, at Sotheby’s Modern and contemporary evening sale a piece titled Can’t wait ‘til the night comes sold for $10.27 million, while - Pinky sold for $7.2 million at an auction held by Phillips.
Can’t wait ‘til the night comes (2012)
After the success of the past week the next painting by Yoshitomo Nora to be sold at auction is Haze Days as part of 20th/21st century evening sale organized by Christie’s on the 15th of October in London.
Hazy Days
Expectations are high, estimated sale price is between $8.7 and $11.4 million, given that Hazy Days is one of the first paintings done by Nara in his mature style, while he was still living in Germany. There are total of 22 canvases of this size (150 centimeters in height) in existence from this period, making the painting lucrative for buyers.
What is the reason for Nara’s success?
After the Acid Rain
The subject of Yoshitomo Nora’s art is an infantile figure often gazing straight at the viewer. Facial features devoid of detail with immensely expressive large eyes are a reflection of the world around us as much as a reflection of the artist himself.
War, political tensions, nuclear warfare, natural disasters and the consequences of these events is the focal point of Nara’s work. These themes transcend borders, helping Nara's work reach a global audience.
