This Month
Auction houses embrace exhibitions to sell works
Joining the likes of Menzies, Sotheby’s and Christie’s, fine art auctioneer Smith & Singer says selling art in the manner of a gallery is an opportunity to showcase artists’ works in depth.
New York disappointment sharpens focus on next Indigenous art auction
Lacklustre results at Sotheby’s Aboriginal Art auction in the US last month have raised questions about the impact on prices at a Sydney sale next month.
May
Big New York Indigenous art sale fizzles
Sotheby’s banner Aboriginal art auction was hoped to be a springboard into the launch of a new Rockefeller gallery in the Met. It wasn’t.
Howard Arkley bidding war drives fresh records
Rapid-fire and often tactical bidding drove Arkley’s big, bright lounge room - and the auction house - to the top of the 2025 sales list.
Fourth time’s a charm for Julie Fragar with her tribute to mums’ love
The Brisbane-based artist won the $100,000 Archibald Prize with a portrait of her friend and fellow artist Justene Williams.
Sotheby’s bets on New York demand for Indigenous art
Several works by Emily Kame Kngwarreye headline an auction estimated to bring make than $4.5 million in sales.
April
20 business types + a $1m super investment = an unusual art collective
Twenty top-tier business and legal names invested $1 million in art from Asia and the Pacific. Now they are selling.
First Uyghur art show attempts to tell a different Chinese story
Former ambassador to China Geoff Raby has curated the work of Uyghur artist Aniwar Mamat to show a side of Chinese contemporary art not seen in Australia until now.
Uli Sigg is offloading his Howard Arkley. Asking price, $1m-plus
One of the world’s biggest art collectors is selling a brash work by one of Australia’s most in-demand artists. It could add up to a record price.
Why this early Whiteley went from £200 to $1.2m
Two paintings were brought from the young artist in 1961. Last week one sold for almost four times the other.
A record-setting photo and a $2.5m number plate
The biggest auction of the year so far delivered $10 million in sales and a record price for an iconic image, while a small plate brings a big price.
Foreign buyers swoop as Indigenous art takes off
An Emily Kam Kngwarreye painting that doubled its estimate helped Deutscher + Hackett record the highest sales since the glory pre-GFC days of 2007.
March
From £450 to $1m: Early Whiteleys emerge with a rich backstory
In 1961 the young Australian artist paid close attention to the pretty Californian art student who bought two of his works in London.
130 years on, Australian art history comes out of the woodwork
An Arthur Streeton painting of a hallowed art location and a canvas that rocketed Brett Whiteley towards his eventual fame will be auctioned in April.
A Canadian estate sale bargain is about to deliver a 200 times return
A wood carving snapped up at an estate clearance for the price of lunch turns out to be something quite rare and valuable.
Roy Lichtenstein delivers $2m payday for John Kaldor
At 89, one of Australia’s top arts philanthropists is downsizing his personal collection, starting with this “early Pop Art masterpiece”.