Mallet Japan May Auction

Mallet Auction's May edition will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Tokyo.

The auction includes the M-Live Auction, a live-streamed online auction, as well as the regular venue sale. A total of 187 lots of artworks will be offered.

Mallet May Auction Catalogue

Lot 084, Woman with a Brooch (Eva  Mudocci) by Edvard Munch, graces the cover of the catalogue.

The work depicts Eva Mudocci, a renowned  English violinist who developed a close relationship with Munch from 1902 and sat for him on several occasions. However, he never completed a portrait with which he was fully satisfied. Instead, Munch produced three lithographs based on her image.

This print, notable for its large, downcast  eyes and the striking brooch at her chest, was created using a range of  techniques applied directly to the lithographic stone, including ink and scraping methods.

May 14 Auction

In addition, the May auction will feature two major works by Keith Haring.

Lot 011 and Lot 012 both belong to the 1983 print series The Fertility Suite.

While the series takes the universal theme  of “the birth of life” as its point of departure, it was created against the backdrop of the increasingly severe global AIDS crisis of the time. Through the repeated use of motifs symbolizing the pregnant body, life, and regeneration, Haring conveys both the vitality of life and, at the same time, its fragility and underlying anxiety.

In Fertility 1, his iconic “radiant baby” motif appears at the center of the composition. In contrast to the flat, solid colors typically seen in his work, the inverted green evokes a sense of  bodily lesion or disturbance.

By contrast, Fertility 5 presents an  ancient Egyptian “ankh” symbol at the center of a large human figure. As a symbol of eternal life, this motif emphasizes the strength and resilience of  women in the face of adversity.

Haring himself was diagnosed with HIV in 1988, after which he became increasingly active in social and public advocacy.

M-Live Auction

The M-Live Auction, an online-only sale,  will be held on the same day. The auction will include works by internationally recognized artists such as David Hockney and Joseph Beuys, along with a broad selection of modern and contemporary artworks.

The online catalog is available via the  Mallet Japan website and ISSUU:

ISSUU: https://issuu.com/mallet_japan

Prospective bidders are advised to review  condition reports and attend the preview prior to participation.

ONLINE LIVE BIDDING

Mallet Japan provides ONLINE LIVE BIDDING, enabling participation via PC and smartphone. Registration as an online member and advance application for each sale are required. Applications are accepted until 6:00 p.m. on the day preceding the auction.

Stay informed with the latest updates via Mallet Japan’s official social media channels:

• Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mallet_japan/

• X (Twitter): https://x.com/MALLET_JP

• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Mallet-Japan-154943277895459/

• LINE: https://lin.ee/FXIb6eq

Auction Details

Date: May 14, 2026 (Thursday)

Time: M-Live Auction 12:00 p.m.

　　　 Sale #260514  15:00 p.m.

Auction Preview: 

May 8, 2026 (Fri) 10:00-18:00

May 11, 2026 (Mon) 10:00-18:00

May 12, 2026 (Tue) 10:00-18:00

May 13, 2026 (Wed) 10:00 - 14:00

*Please note that the closing time is  different on the last day of the preview. 

Venue: Mallet Japan 

Address: 1F, Nissay Hanzomon Building,  1-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Website: https://mallet.co.jp

Contact: info@mallet.co.jp  

Mallet Japan

Company Profile

Mallet Japan is one of Japan’s leading auction houses specializing in fine art. Focused primarily on modern and contemporary works, it holds 5 to 6 auctions annually at its Tokyo venue. Since its establishment in 2005, the company has been a pioneer in expanding Japan’s connection to the global art market, building strong ties not only within Japan but also across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Guided by the principles of fairness and integrity, Mallet Japan remains committed to offering trusted and high-quality art auctions to collectors worldwide.