Christie's Asian and Western 20th century and contemporary art sale made over US$20 million this past weekend in Shanghai with the help of artwork by Picasso and Warhol.

This is Christie's second art sale and auction in China. The first, held in September last year, made around US$25 million as it auctioned off jewelry, artwork, and even wine.

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However, Christie's 2013 inaugural auction was only a 39-lot sale while this year's affair encompassed nearly twice that, making it a 61-lot event.

The presence of famed Western art at this auction marks a change in taste on behalf of Chinese collectors who are looking to expand beyond traditional Chinese paintings and collect Western works as well. According to Christie's, 63 percent of successful bidders were Chinese while only 37 percent were foreigners.

The most expensive work sold over the weekend was the Warhol acrylic and silkscreen inks on canvas titled "Self-Portrait With Skeleton Arm and Madonna," for which an Asian telephone bidder paid 12 million yuan.

An abstract painting by Chinese artist Zao was sold for 10.2 million yuan, making it the most expensive Chinese work at the auction.

Christie's, an organization which offers private auctions and sales of artwork, has had many successful auctions and sales in the past year, including one in the USA which raised over US$782 million.

And with a slotted US$500 million to be made at its postwar and contemporary auction being held in New York on May 13, the Shanghai sale may seem small in comparison.

However, Christie's Asian and Western 20th century and contemporary art sale reveals an interest in Chinese citizens to begin investing in art, from both home-grown and foreign artists.