The art world witnessed a groundbreaking moment at Phillips’ Modern & Contemporary Art Evening Sale in Hong Kong, where Li Hei Di’s Orange Swim (2021) set a new auction record for the young Chinese artist, selling for an impressive $155,035. The sale, held last night, realized a total of $22 million, with Li’s work standing out as a highlight of the event.

Li, born in Shenyang in 1997, has rapidly emerged as a significant figure in contemporary art. After completing an MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art, London, in 2022, they have captivated audiences with their distinctive style, blending figurative and abstract elements infused with themes of desire and intimacy. Represented by prestigious galleries like Pace Gallery, Pippy Houldsworth in London, and Michael Kohn Gallery in Los Angeles, Li continues to push the boundaries of contemporary painting.

Their auction record eclipses the previous high of $127,000, also achieved in 2024, cementing Li’s rising prominence in the art market. Known for works that shimmer with glowing, ephemeral beauty, Li has described their practice as capturing “a ghost of something not quite abstract, but not quite figurative either.”

Other notable results from the evening included Yoshitomo Nara’s Baby Blue (1999), which topped the sale at $5.8 million, and Sanyu’s Reclining Nude, with Raised Knee II (1950/1960s), achieving $5.5 million. Nicolas Party’s Mountains (2023) sold for $1.8 million, while Nara’s motorized sculpture, Fountain of Life (2001/2014), fetched over $1.3 million.

With Li Hei Di’s bold and evocative work resonating with collectors and critics alike, their artistic trajectory promises even greater milestones in the future.