The art market is picking up, with auction clearance rates over 70% and more good works achieving stronger prices, as the ABC reported yesterday. Check out David’s comments on the art auction market on TV at ABC The Business.
More facettes of this fascinating world are shown in Affairs of the Art – Love, Loss and Power in the Art World. The new book by Katrina Strickland, deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review Magazine, reveals what goes on behind the scenes to maintain and increase an artist’s legacy… a must-read for anyone interested in Australian art and the Australian art market.
And last but not least, David has just picked his favourites from the 271 lot strong Lawson-Menzies auction next week. It is a wide offering from the traditional to the very contemporary with estimates from just $2,000 – good art is on the move.
Dave’s Faves are:
Lot 10 – Ray Crooke, Mission Women (study), c.1965, est. $2,500-3,500. Early gem of a painting
Lot 16 – John Coburn, Tribal Ground 1981, est. $8,000-10,000. Claim me and re-frame me
Lot 19 – James Alfred Turner, Swaggies at Rest 1903, est. $4,000-6,000. Pretty as a picture
Lot 32 – Adam Cullen, Portrait 2005, est. $8,000-10,000. Don’t be a drip!
Lot 33 – Euan MacLeod, Fingers 1995, est. $10,000-15,000. Fingers crossed you get it!
Lot 38 – Jeffrey Smart, Feeding the Seagulls 1995, est. $36,000-44,000. Early Smarts all too rare and all too cheap
Lot 40 – Ben Quilty, Insignia No. 1, 2007, est. $35,000-45,000. A rare Rorschach that actually works well
Lot 42 – Ben Quilty, Amsterdam Skull with fag 2005, est. $32,000-40,000. After van Gogh’s ‘Skull of a skeleton with burning cigarette 1885″
Lot 43 – David Boyd, A plumed wombat watching Europa cleaning her wings, 1996, est. $20,000-30,000. A bargain at the low estimate
Lot 48 – Arthur Streeton, Cowes Regatta, Portsmouth, from the Isle of Wight, 1905, est. $15,000-20,000. Sail on, Mr Streeton
Lot 51 – Brett Whiteley, The Gull, 1978, est. $12,000-16,000. I am completely gullible for this one
Lot 72 – Fred Williams, Portrait of a Jockey c1955, est. $1,500-2,500. More Joyous at that estimate
Lot 91 – Pro Hart, At the Races, est. $2,000-3,000. Hart for Half the Price
Lot 94 – Conrad Martens, Greenoaks Darling Point, est. $6,000-9,000. Turner meets Constable – sublime
Lot 104 – Bill Henson, Untitled, 1983/84, est. $4,000-6,000. Grit
Lot 113 – Fred Williams, Landscape panel number 8, est. $1,500-2,000. The Prince of Prints
Lot 138 – Emily Kngwarreye, Body Paint Design, 1995, est. $3,500-5,500. Make those lines mine
Lot 156 – Guy Boyd, Swimmer Entertaining, est. $2,800-3,800. Entertain me
Lot 181 – Sidney Nolan, Kelly and Horse, est. $2,500-3,500. Has anyone here seen Kelly?
Lot 197 – Max Dupain, Shopfront, 1930s, est. $2,000-3,000. Australian icon
Let us know if you are interested in any of these or other works on offer. We can assist you with thoughts and advice, due diligence and bidding on the night of the auction on 9 May.
The art is on view at 12 Todman Avenue, Kensington – from now on until 9 May, 10 am to 5.30 pm, or you can view at www.lawsonmenzies.com.au.