Top Artists To Look Out For: President of Christie's Asia Francois Curiel Shares His Picks

The president of Christie’s Asia gives his top picks of artists to look out for

The former chairman of Christie’s France moved to Hong Kong last year to head the auction house's Asian operation. One of the leading auctioneers of our time with 40 years’ experience at the company, Curiel oversaw the Yves Saint Laurent auction in Paris in February 2009 which shattered records for art sales and raised 400 million euros for charity. We ask the leading man of Christie’s Asia to give us his top picks of artists to look out for.

Ryozo Kato (b. 1964, Japan)

Kato paints with amazingly delicate brushstrokes over softly colour-washed paper, forming romantic visions of dense foliage with acute shadings of yellow, green and red. Looking at the peaceful works by this artist is like wandering through a mountain range - they calm me down when I'm a bit stressed, which, of course, seldom happens.

Antoine Tzapoff (b.1945, France)

Fabienne Verdier (b.1962, France)

Verdier was awarded the first scholarship to study Chinese in context of the sister cities of Toulouse and Chongqing. She graduated from the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, which counts Zhang Xiaogang among its alumni. Inspired by pure forms in nature and the teachings of the great Chan masters, Verdier's works explore the contrast of black with other colours through ink and paint. I was first attracted to her brush paintings, with naturalistic strokes and broad structures captured in ink.

Chinese contemporary art collector David Tang gives his top picks of artists to look out for here.

Wen Feng (b. 1961, China)

Wang studied at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and photographs the people and cities around him. I especially like the Wall Straddle Series, which depict young solitary girls sitting on walls while gazing at some of China's fast-developing new cities. The juxtaposition of isolation and urbanisation as well as the lively colours and deep perspective have great appeal.

Wang Yidong (b. 1955, China)

His work might come across as simple and nostalgic, but I find it also demonstrates great sophistication in composition and fabulous richness in colour. Wang graduated from the prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, and his paintings represent humble and earnest portrayals of life in China, often focusing on important occasions such as weddings. His pictures are so festive and light up a room, and I admire the fineness in the details.