HONG KONG.- Christie's begins a year of 40th Anniversary celebrations in Asia and commences the Hong Kong spring season with the announcement of Gerhard Richter's seminal and incandescent Abstraktes Bild (estimate: HK$78,000,000 – 98,000,000 / US$10,000,000 – 13,000,000). The masterpiece will make its auction debut as a leading highlight of the Hong Kong 20th/21st Century Evening Sale on 27 March 2026, taking place live at Christie's Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson during Hong Kong Art Week.

Presented amidst surging global interest in Richter, ignited by the acclaimed retrospective currently on view at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, the piece hails from the artist's famed 'Abstraktes Bild' series – one of the most celebrated bodies of work in late 20th century painting. An exceedingly rare example within Richter's oeuvre, it was only in the year 1991 that he painted canvases dominated by the colour red, and the present work is one of just 27, of which three are in institutional collections. Composed of vast stretches of vivid red tones applied in layers through the artist's signature squeegee technique, the work radiates with a palpable sense of warmth and luminosity.

Abstraktes Bild was created at a pinnacle moment in Richter's career, as he ascended to international prominence – following his major touring retrospectives across Europe and America in 1986-1988, and in the same year as his groundbreaking 1991 Tate exhibition. The work reflects a period that shaped the trajectory of Richter's career and affirmed his status as one of the most influential artists of his generation. Boasting exceptional provenance, Abstraktes Bild passed through the hands and was exhibited at Galerie Liliane & Michel Durand‑Dessert—pioneering Paris gallerists celebrated for championing avant‑garde artists.

Cristian Albu, Deputy Chairman, Head of 20th/21st Century Art, Christie's Asia Pacific commented: “Imbued with a profound sense of energy and drama through layer after layer of scarlet red paint, this is a rare and extraordinarily captivating painting from Gerhard Richter's Abstraktes Bild, his most coveted series. One of the most important living artists of our time, reflected by the success of his current exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, Richter's inimitable oeuvre is universally compelling, resonating with collectors across Asia. Debuting Abstraktes Bild as we mark our 40th Anniversary in Asia continues our unparalleled offering of 20th and 21st Century Art in the region.”

Ada Tsui, Vice President, Head of Department, 20th/21st Century Art, Christie's Asia Pacific commented: “With only very few in existence, this is an exceptional opportunity to acquire one of Richter's rare, striking red Abstraktes Bild canvases – we are privileged to present this masterful example in our Hong Kong Evening Sale, a demonstration of the strong appetite in Asia for outstanding works by renowned Western artists. We look forward to convening with collectors across the region, and we urge our clients and audiences to experience the power of this painting in person during its display in New York, London, Taipei, Shanghai, and Hong Kong ahead of the auction.”