The iconic Pumpkin original painting by the world-renowned artist Yayoi Kusama will be featured in K Auction's major December auction. This piece, created in 1990, is a small-sized work (15.8×22.7 cm) with an estimated price ranging from 760 million to 900 million KRW. Considering that Kusama’s large-scale works are valued at over 10 billion KRW, this auction offers a relatively accessible opportunity to own one of her originals. The auction will take place at K Auction's headquarters in Sinsa-dong, Seoul, featuring a total of 101 works with a combined lower estimate of approximately 6.3 billion KRW.
 
Kusama’s works include not only the original painting but also a variety of prints. Highlights include Red Colored Pumpkin, created in 1994 (60 million–120 million KRW), Flowers(3) from 1999 (32 million–70 million KRW), A Pumpkin RB-B from 2004 (50 million–80 million KRW), and Flower C from 2005 (32 million–70 million KRW).

Significant works from Korean modern and contemporary art will also enhance this auction.
 
Chun Kyung-ja’s 1987 work, Flowers and Woman, is expected to fetch between 180 million and 600 million KRW. Notable for his ‘Water Drop’ series, Kim Tschang-yeul’s pieces are also featured. His 2017 large-scale 100-ho work, Water Drop SDR201704, carries an estimated price of 180 million to 240 million KRW, while his smaller 3-ho Water Drop from 1979 is valued between 80 million and 180 million KRW.

A standout in the Dansaekhwa movement, Park Seo-bo’s work will also attract attention. His 2007 piece, Ecriture No.0700422, created with mixed media on hanji and canvas (195 x 162 cm), has an estimated price of 470 million to 750 million KRW. Additionally, his early pencil work from 1976, Ecriture No.4-76, is estimated between 35 million and 110 million KRW.

Lee Bae’s 2003 100-ho work, From the Fire M12, created with charcoal on canvas (160 x 130 cm), is another highlight, with an estimated price ranging from 300 million to 400 million KRW.
 
This December auction at K Auction is poised to capture the attention of art enthusiasts, featuring Kusama's iconic works alongside masterpieces of Korean modern and contemporary art.

Jay Jongho Kim graduated from the Department of Art Theory at Hongik University and earned his master's degree in Art Planning from the same university. From 1996 to 2006, he worked as a curator at Gallery Seomi, planning director at CAIS Gallery, head of the curatorial research team at Art Center Nabi, director at Gallery Hyundai, and curator at Gana New York. From 2008 to 2017, he served as the executive director of Doosan Gallery Seoul & New York and Doosan Residency New York, introducing Korean contemporary artists to the local scene in New York. After returning to Korea in 2017, he worked as an art consultant, conducting art education, collection consulting, and various art projects. In 2021, he founded A Project Company and is currently running the platforms K-ARTNOW.COM and K-ARTIST.COM, which aim to promote Korean contemporary art on the global stage.