In April, a US$3.7 million painting by Cui Ruzhuo went missing in Hong Kong after it was sold by Chinese auction firm Poly Auction. The auction house admitted it blundered: The work was likely taken out with the trash and dumped in a landfill, the firm concluded.

Still, the 72-year-old Chinese painter said he doesn't hold any grudges against China's largest auction house.

"I believe it was an accident," he said in an interview in Hong Kong at the opening of his first solo exhibition in the city at the Hong Kong Art Centre. "I think Poly is a well-organized company," he said, adding that the auction firm is his best venue to reach China's wealthy collectors. Mr. Cui wasn't the seller of the missing painting, though he says he sells most of his works through auction firms.

Cui Ruzhou stands at the opening of his solo exhibition in Hong Kong, which opened earlier this week. Lotus Arts Group

Outside of China, Mr. Cui, who's best known for his wintry landscapes, has a small international profile despite having lived in the U.S. for several years in the 1980s. His first big break was when he sold a work while in the U.S. for US$400,000, according to state media. He later returned to China in 1996 and invested the money in other ventures while continuing to paint. An avid collector himself, he also owns a private museum in Japan.

Lately, the painter, who was born in Beijing in 1944, has become a fast-rising star on the Chinese art market. Last year, he was the sixth-most highly valued living Chinese artist in the auction market, with his paintings fetching a total of US$35.3 million at auction. Earlier this year, his work "Landscape in Snow" sold for 184 million Hong Kong dollars (US$23.7 million) at auction, a personal record.

Unlike most painters, Mr. Cui is shameless about his commercial aspirations and says he hopes to one day tops the list as China's most valuable painter. In 2010, when his record price at auction was HK$15 million, he boldly predicted he'd sell a work at HK$100 million within four years. Since then, he has sold seven pieces over that threshold.

"I dream in ten years that my art's value will surpass Dali, Monet and Picasso," he said confidently. "I will be the best-known Chinese artist in the 21st century. My work is already making history."

Unlike most artists, Mr. Cui eschews private galleries and says he mostly sells his works by auction. And though he has museum shows coming up next year in France and England, he says he doesn't aspire to be recognized by Western galleries and museums. Instead, he believes Chinese collectors and their interest will continue to lift his career into stratospheric heights

"I think it's useless to try to introduce myself to the Western audience. To understand my work, they have to learn Chinese and Asian art first," he said. "The Chinese already know my art. And the stronger the Chinese economy, the more I can sell my works."

--Jason Chow. Follow him on Twitter @jjasonchow