Toys become an auction hit thanks to popularity of artists such as Kaws, Yoshitomo Nara and Takashi Murakami

Artists have blurred the lines between toys and art with the creation of collectible ‘art toy’ sculptures and figurines that have drawn auction-goers’ interest

A video series from auctioneer Phillips is a reminder that this trend started in Hong Kong, for two decades the global hub of toy manufacturing and design

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Hong Kong artist and toy designer Eric So in his studio. He narrates a two-part video series, Made in Hong Kong, about toy design and production launched by auctioneer Phillips. Photo: Courtesy of Eric So and Phillips Hong Kong

Aaina Bhargava

Published: 4:15pm, 24 Apr 2020Updated: 4:21pm, 25 Apr 2020

Recent years have seen a rapid increase in auction sales of collectibles and “art toys”.

Characters such as Hello Kitty and, more recently, Pepe the Frog, have enjoyed immense popularity among audiences of all ages, particularly in Asia. Now items such as artist Kaws’ Companion sculptures and fellow artist Takashi Murakami’s commercial KaiKai and KiKi lines enjoy similar popularity.

According to auctioneer Phillips, which regularly holds sales of art toys and collectibles, buyers are spread equally between Asia, North America and Europe. Within Asia, more than 60 per cent of the buyers come from Greater China.

In December, Phillips launched an online auction called “Kaws: A Holiday Sale”, and sold the entire selection of compact toys by the US contemporary artist on offer.

Sleepless Night (Sitting) (2007) by Yoshitomo Nara. Photo: courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong

Sotheby’s online sale of “toys and multiples” this month did equally well, achieving sales of more than HK$10 million (US$1.3 million). A highlight was the sale of Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara’s 2007 figurine Sleepless Night (Sitting) for HK$600,000.