Sales were strong at this year's Art Basel in Hong Kong 2019, where collectors from around the world splashed out on works by top artists

Campbell’s Elvis (1962) by Andy Warhol

Tatler Asia
Above Andy Warhol, Campbell’s Elvis (1962). (Courtesy of Christie's)

Price: US$2.85 million

This work is the first painting in which Andy Warhol combined two of his most famous motifs: Elvis Presley and the Campbell's soup can. Brought to Art Basel in Hong Kong by White Cube, it was snapped up within a few hours of opening for US$2.85 million.

Its latest buyer (who is currently anonymous) joins a starry line-up of collectors who have owned this painting—it first belonged to Salvador Dali and has also hung in the home of casino magnate Steve Wynn. 

Carol Bove sculptures at David Zwirner

Tatler Asia
Above Carol Bove, Melty Legs (2018). (Courtesy of the artist and David Zwirner)

Price: US$400,000—US$500,000

David Zwirner went out on a limb at Art Basel Hong Kong this year by focusing on the work of Carol Bove, a Switzerland-born, USA-based sculpture who has never had a solo show in Asia and is relatively unknown in this part of the world. But the risk paid off. By the end of day one of the fair, Zwirner had solo all four of Bove's abstract sculptures for US$400,000—US$500,000 each.

Zwirner went on to sell all the other works featured at his booth, including a painting by Alice Neel (which went for US$1.7 million) and a Luc Tuymans painting (US$1.5 million).  

The Eleventh Loop (Dedicated To The Memory Of Adrienne Rich) (2012) by Jack Whitten

Tatler Asia
Above Jack Whitten, The Eleventh Loop (Dedicated To The Memory Of Adrienne Rich) (2012). (Courtesy of Hauser & Wirth

Price: US$1.7 million

Prices for works by the late African-American artist Jack Whitten have been skyrocketing recently. In November last year, his auction record was broken when a painting sold for US$2,235,000 at Sotheby's in New York, then this was topped again this March, when another painting sold for US$2,660,000 at the same auction house. 

At Art Basel in Hong Kong, Hauser & Wirth sold Barney's Legacy 2 (2012) by Jack Whitten for US$1.7 million. 

The gallery sold many other notable works, including a new Mark Bradford painting for US$2 million.  

See also: Style Spotting: Art Basel Hong Kong 2019 Private View

Willing To Be Vulnerable—Metalized Balloon (2019) by Lee Bul

Tatler Asia
Above Lee Bul, Willing To Be Vulnerable – Metalized Balloon (2019). (Photo: Hong Kong Tatler)

Price: More than US$200,000

A private museum in China has bought this dramatic installation by Lee Bul. Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Lehmann Maupin and PKM Gallery—who jointly presented the work—are keeping mum on which museum is behind the purchase, but it's unlikely to stay secret for long.

At more than 10 metres long, this metallic zeppelin is sure to make headlines when it's unveiled at its new home. 

Columbus (Eco-Lumbus) + Columbus Boat (1991) by Nam June Paik

Tatler Asia
Above Nam June Paik’s sculpture “Columbus (Eco-Lumbus) + Columbus Boat,” (1991) at Annely Juda Fine Art. (Courtesy of Art Basel)

Price: US$600,000 

Often described as the father of video art, Nam June Paik's art spans sculpture, installation, music, performance and, of course, video. 

This work is one of Paik's famous robot sculptures, which he made from radios and TVs. Featuring 11 TVs stacked on top of a wooden boat, this particular sculpture sold for US$600,000 at Annely Juda Fine Art's booth at Art Basel in Hong Kong. 

See also: Video: 1-Minute Artists At Art Basel Hong Kong 2019

Topics