Global Auction, previously known as Masterpiece Auction House, was established in 2003 in Jakarta. Its first auction was held on July 23, 2003, and the company quickly expanded internationally, entering the art markets in:

• Singapore (2008)
• Kuala Lumpur (2013)
• Hong Kong (2016)

The company was founded by Ir. Benny O. Rahardjo, who served as President Director for many years. The leadership has since transitioned to his son, Kevin Oenardi Raharjo, who currently holds the position of Director.

Focus & Collections

Global Auction specializes in modern and contemporary Southeast Asian art, but its collection also includes works from:

• China, Japan, Korea, India, and even Europe
• A wide variety of categories such as paintings, sculptures, ceramics, traditional textiles/costumes, antique books, and other fine art objects
• Artists from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, as well as other Asian and European countries

Authenticity Controversies

The reputation of Global Auction (then Masterpiece) began to face scrutiny following a notable case:

The Nyoman Gunarsa Painting Case (2018)

In September 2018, a painting titled “Penari Bali” (1989) auctioned by Masterpiece was suspected to be a fake by Indrawati Gunarsa, the widow of the late artist Nyoman Gunarsa. The 145×145 cm painting was deemed inauthentic due to clear stylistic inconsistencies and a questionable signature.
The auction house denied the allegation, claiming the work had been vetted by internal and independent curators. However, no official police investigation or legal action was ever reported regarding the matter.
🔗 Read the article on Samawarea: Masterpiece Asserts Nyoman Gunarsa Painting Auctioned Was Authentic

Escalation After Rebranding to Global

In October 2023, Masterpiece officially rebranded as Global Auction. Since then, according to observers and insiders, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of allegedly fake artworks being sold.
Although there has been no formal investigation, media reports and art world commentary have pointed to growing concerns about the authenticity of works presented by the house—raising questions about its verification standards and lack of transparency.