On the occasion of the spring sales, SBI Art Auction offers a double event that brings together masters of the 20th century and protagonists of the international contemporary scene.
How is the spring program of SBI Art Auction structured?
In conjunction with Art Fair Tokyo, the Japanese auction house SBI Art Auction presents two sessions with a museum-like breadth. On Saturday, March 14, the 77th auction “Modern Legacy: An Important Japanese Collection of 20th and 21st Century Masters” will take place, dedicated to a prestigious private Japanese collection. On Sunday, March 15, the 78th auction “Bloom Now”, now in its fifth edition, will follow, focusing on the many facets of contemporary art.
The two sales are held in parallel, building an ideal bridge between the great names of 20th-century art and some of the most interesting voices of the current scene. Together, they offer a journey that spans over a hundred years of visual research, from historical avant-gardes to the most recent practices.
What distinguishes the “Modern Legacy” collection?
The central core of “Modern Legacy” consists of a single collection, the result of the consistent taste of a single Japanese collector who built it over many years. The collection, formed with care and passed down, testifies to the ability of art to transcend geographical and temporal boundaries. Moreover, it offers a cross-section of the history of 20th and 21st-century art.
Among the standout lots is “Portrait d’Hélène Franck” (1924) by the Japanese-French painter Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita. Created during the artist’s most prolific Parisian years, the painting captures the social and cultural atmosphere of the French capital in the interwar period. The refinement of the execution and the choice of subject reflect the level of sophistication achieved by Foujita at that stage.
Which modern masters will be auctioned?
The selection includes works by major protagonists of modern art. Edvard Munch‘s visionary “Madonna” (1902) is offered, an iconic image for its intensity and almost otherworldly aura. In sharp but stimulating contrast, a “Female Nude” (1917) by Egon Schiele expresses his unmistakable figurative language, essential and tense.
That said, the collection does not stop at the first half of the century. The auction also includes works created in the second half of the 20th century by artists such as David Hockney, Donald Judd, and Richard Serra. These names, coming from different stylistic fields, contribute to giving historical depth and critical context to the set of lots offered.
How does “Bloom Now” narrate the contemporary?
Established in 2022 as an annual event in the auction house’s calendar and renamed “Bloom Now” in 2025, the second March sale ideally brings the narrative up to the present day. The timing, at the beginning of spring, underscores the idea of the blossoming of new research and languages. The selection explores contemporary practices rooted in art history but capable of illuminating the present from multiple perspectives.
The auction also looks at the period when the contemporary scene, then in strong expansion, reached new heights of attention and market. In this context, the works of Pop Art pioneers like Roy Lichtenstein and Tom Wesselmann constitute one of the conceptual pivots of the sale. The presence of these authors allows for a connection between the experiments of the 1960s and today’s practices.
What are the key lots of “Bloom Now”?
Among the most recognizable works is “The Couple (Corlett 175)” (1980) by Roy Lichtenstein, a woodcut in shades of red, yellow, blue, and black. The work belongs to a limited edition of only 50 copies, and another copy is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. This fact underscores the institutional relevance of the work.
Another focal point of the sale is “Painting of Painting 040” (2021) by Japanese artist Takeda Teppei. The painting is part of the “Painting of Painting” series, a body of work that rarely surfaces in the domestic market. Moreover, the presence of the work is particularly significant because another piece from the same series had already appeared at auction at SBI Art Auction in 2022, creating continuity in the offering to collectors.
What is the overall economic weight of the two SBI Art Auction sales?
Overall, the two sales reach a minimum aggregate estimate of 1.25 billion JPY, equivalent to about 7.9 million dollars. This figure highlights the qualitative and market weight of the selection, ranging from museum rarities to highly appealing works for collectors attentive to global trends. The valuations reflect both the strength of the names and the rarity of the works offered.
What parallel events enrich the offering of SBI Art Auction?
On the same day as “Modern Legacy”, March 14, a dedicated in-depth meeting on Foujita is scheduled. The event aims to contextualize the artist’s figure and the role of his work within the collection’s journey. Additionally, satellite exhibitions at the Tokyo International Forum and a pop-up at the Tokyo International Forum Plaza will allow visitors to get up close to the standout lots.
These parallel initiatives expand the experience beyond the auction room, bringing the public closer to art through exhibition and educational moments. In this way, the double spring event takes on the contours of a true cultural platform, in dialogue with the broader programming of Art Fair Tokyo and the vibrant artistic ecosystem of the city.
When exactly will the March 2026 auctions take place?
SBI Art Auction will schedule the sale “Modern Legacy: An Important Japanese Collection of 20th and 21st Century Masters” for Saturday, March 14, 2026. The following day, Sunday, March 15, 2026, will be the fifth edition of “Bloom Now”, dedicated to contemporary research. Updated information on catalogs and participation methods will be published on the official auction house website, sbiart.auction, and on major international market platforms like Artnet.
Overall, the spring program of SBI Art Auction composes an itinerary that spans from historical modernism to the most current practices, offering collectors and enthusiasts a rare opportunity to engage with works of selected provenance and strong artistic significance.
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
