Yue Minjun with some of his smiling figures in his Beijing studio. One of China’s new breed of financially successful artists, he lives in a large walled-off compound. (Chang W. Lee /The New York Times)

"Coexistence" by Yue Minjun. Mr. Yue is one of China's leading avant-garde artists, many of whom have morphed in multi-millionaires.(Christies)

Mr. Yue with his sculpture at his studio in Beijing. (Chang W. Lee /The New York Times)

Zeng Hao at his show, which opened recently at the Shanghai Gallery of Art.(Qila Shen/The New York Times)

"Interior 2003" by Mr. Hao. (Beijing Art Now Galler)

"Smoking" by Zeng Fanzhi. (Christies)

"Marlboro" by Wang Guangyi, who is best known for his Great Criticism series of paintings emblazoned with the names of popular Western brands. (Christies)

"30th Mary" by Fang Lijun, a "Cynical Realist" painter. (Saatchi)

"Father and Son," a 2005 painting by Zhang Xiaogang. Prices for Mr. Zhang's work have skyrocketed at auction over the last two years. (Christies)