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Yoshitomo Nara painting 'Nothing about it' sells for record 15 billion won

Published: 01 Apr. 2026, 16:15 Updated: 01 Apr. 2026, 19:39

Yoshitomo Nara’s painting “Nothing about it” (2016) [SEOUL AUCTION]

Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara’s painting “Nothing about it” (2016) sold for 15 billion won ($10 million) on Tuesday, setting a record for the highest price achieved at an art auction in Korea.

Seoul Auction sold the work during its “Contemporary Art Sale” on Tuesday. The painting, which measures 162 centimeters (5.3 feet) wide and 194 centimeters tall, is one of Nara’s larger works. It shows one of his signature childlike figures with a calm, almost emotionless expression.

The sale marked the first time an artwork sold for more than 10 billion won at an auction in Korea.

Nara is known for his distinctive portraits of wide-eyed, childlike figures that often convey subtle expressions of loneliness or unease. His work blends influences from Japanese pop culture, Western punk rock and folk art. Notable works by Nara include “Slash with a Knife” (1998) and “Knife Behind Back” (2000).

In Tuesday's auction, meanwhile, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin” (2015) sold for 10.45 billion won.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KWON KEUN-YOUNG [[email protected]]