Important Paintings & Contemporary Art

6:30PM 3 Abbey Street, Newton, Auckland

Art+Object realised a sale total of $2 280 094 in the final major art auction of 2020, the third consecutive two-million-dollar sale total for this category of sale this year.

Top price of the evening went to the magnificent Theo Schoon Mural (1982) which realised $336 335 against its estimate of $180 000 - $250 000. The mural recently appeared in the City Gallery curated exhibition ‘Split Level View Finder’ and the price easily eclipsed the artist’s previous record of $72 850. Another new record price was set for the work of Michael Parekōwhai when his work Kiss the Baby Goodbye (1999) exceeded its pre-sale estimate of $100 000 - $150 000, selling for $187 385.

Seven works by New Zealand’s pre-eminent painter Colin McCahon were offered last night with all seven selling on the night. Landscape Multiple (est. $35 000 - $50 000) realised $70 870, whilst the two North Otago works on paper from the estate of John and June Ritchie made $81 680 and $76 875, respectively. The major Northland painting repatriated from London for the auction sold for $258 258 (est $200 000 - $300 000) to a remote bidder. All five works offered for the benefit of Pride sold well, with Jack Trolove’s much-admired Ravine bringing a very healthy $13 000.

Further highlights included: Ian Scott, Lattice No. 94 $45 645; Michael Parekōwhai, The Moment of Cubism $68 465; Robert Ellis, Landscape with City and River $16 815; Ralph Hotere, Untitled – from the Algerie Series $38 438; John Pule, Another Time, Another Place $27 625; Paratene Matchitt, Untitled $14 415; Fiona Pardington, Portrait of a Life Cast of Matoua Tawai $36 035; Tony Fomison, An Actor’s Face $39 640; Frances Hodgkins, Walled Garden with Convolvulus $81 680; Jude Rae, S. L 162 $25 225.