S p r i n g & S u m m e r 2 0 2 1 new s l e t t er
Spring & Summer 2021 IN REVIEW Summer is finally here and the sun is shining across the country! It has been wonderful to welcome many of you back into the Heffel galleries over the last few months and see our cities come alive again. We missed experiencing outstanding works of art with all of you, and look forward to making new memories together as the world continues to restore itself. Following a year of transformation, the art market continues to prove itself strong and resilient, and has brought joy to collectors and enthusiasts during a challenging and unprecedented time. We have seen works by prominent artists reach new heights, important institutions and organizations join forces across all facets of the industry and major developments in the way art is presented and enjoyed, and so much more. Heffel’s marquee live auction on June 23 showcased more than 90 exceptional artworks to an entirely virtual audience, tuning in from countries across the globe. Featuring a three-city broadcast from our salerooms in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, the auction seamlessly brought together the live and digital experience. It was an unforgettable evening for bidders and viewers, highlighted by incredible works of art and accompanying entertainment. This reimagined format was a first in the Canadian market, and we are proud to be paving the way as the auction world experiences a new era. Museum-quality examples by important artists took centre stage, and new benchmarks were set across all areas of the market. It was truly an honour to share the magic of the two Emily Carr masterpieces that led Heffel’s spring auction. Tossed by the Wind, a dynamic 1939 forest scene, was among the finest and most sought-after works to ever come to market by the BC artist. The matureperiod canvas drew interest from around the world, and ultimately surpassed the $3 million mark. Swirl, a 1937 masterwork, dazzled collectors with its energetic forest composition and sterling provenance, having once been owned by Carr’s cherished friend and supporter Lawren Harris. The painting eclipsed pre-sale estimates and sold for a noteworthy $2,341,250. Both of these canvases are
remarkable, and Heffel will forever cherish the opportunity of finding them both wonderful new homes. Heffel is very proud to be the leading seller of works by Emily Carr globally, and has sold the top 15 most valuable works by Carr ever offered at auction. Our online auctions have also performed exceptionally well in 2021 thus far. We presented a number of well-received auctions over the last few months, and with much success. Highlights included Folk Art, First Nations & Inuit Art, Pop Art Prints & International
ABOVE: e MILY cARR, Tossed by the Wind oil on canvas, 1939 32 1/8 × 27 1/4 inches Sold June 23, 2021 for $3,121,250
Graphics and The Group of Seven & Their Contemporaries. Heffel is currently accepting consignments for all of the great auctions that we have lined up for the fall, including Canadian, Impressionist and Modern Art, Post-War & Contemporary Art, Pop Art Prints
of Canada, beginning in January. Heffel is honoured to have supported all four legs of this tour and we look forward to seeing the show on Canadian soil this winter. Heffel will also be supporting the AGO’s upcoming highly anticipated Picasso: Painting the Blue Period this fall, the first exhibition in Canada to focus on the early works of the modernist master Pablo Picasso.
Emerging Departments and New Partnerships
above: F ranc es Anne B e ec hey Ho pkins A Green Pool, French River, Canada watercolour on paper on board, circa 1864 16 × 21 1/2 inches Sold June 23, 2021 for a record $193,250
& International Graphics, and many others. We welcome international consignments for our online auction platform and our live auctions year round. Our fall live auction consignment deadline is August 24, 2021.
Benchmarks Shattered It is incredibly gratifying to see important works of art deservingly shatter longstanding records, and this season works by many artists reached new heights in Heffel’s auctions. Among the highlights this spring were Frances Anne Hopkins’s rare and historically significant A Green Pool, French River, Canada, Rita Letendre’s commanding Terme de la nuit and Cornelius Krieghoff ’s intricate 1896 canvas Quebec Farm. Record-breaking milestones were also achieved for Maud Lewis, Doris McCarthy, Joe Fafard and Jean McEwen, among others.
Celebrating, Enjoying and Supporting the Arts We are overjoyed to be able to visit and enjoy the very special cultural institutions across Canada this summer, many of which need our support more than ever, after months of closures. A number of important exhibitions have
been delayed due to the pandemic, and we are eager to finally experience them, beginning this summer. Heffel is very proud to support the Art Gallery of Ontario’s blockbuster retrospective Andy Warhol, which spans four decades of the artist’s career. The exhibition, organized by the Tate Modern, London in collaboration with Museum Ludwig and the AGO, is on now through October 2021. The very successful first showing of Riopelle: The Call of Northern Landscapes and Indigenous Cultures is now on at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, until September. Heffel is thrilled to continue supporting this monumental exhibition for its upcoming stops at Whistler’s Audain Art Museum in October, and Calgary’s Glenbow Museum in 2022. After three stops in renowned institutions in Germany, Switzerland and France, the Canada and Impressionism: New Horizons exhibition will make its final mark at the National Gallery
As we continue to broaden our offerings and connect with more collectors across the world, Heffel is adding a number of new and expanded departments to our growing roster. This spring, we presented our inaugural auction of Asian Art, in collaboration with specialist Anthony Wu, one of Canada’s most respected authorities on Asian art and antiques, who has unparalleled expertise. The auction featured important examples of historical, modern and contemporary Asian art, and was highlighted by Important Chinese Art from the Collection of S.K. Lee. The sale was met with tremendous collector engagement globally and achieved a 90% success rate. We are currently accepting consignments for our fall auction of Asian Art, including art from China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, the Himalayan region and India. Heffel’s first Collector Motorcycles sale was also a great success, run in partnership with Kiehl’s Canada. Seven highly collectible vintage motorcycles, previously on display as part of Kiehl’s store installations across Canada, were presented through an online charity auction. The sale achieved a 100% success rate, as each motorcycle found a new home, and consignor proceeds from the auction benefited Kiehl’s philanthropic partner organizations— Tree Canada, The Get REAL Movement and Foundation of Stars. We look forward to our next auction of collector motorcycles, and are currently welcoming consignments. This season was filled with important partner auctions, which came to fruition after
spring 2021 Live AUCTION AT A GLANCE 908 remote live auction bidders and viewers 9 2 % s u c c e s s r at e o f l o t s s o l d 2 WOR K S SOLD FOR MORE T H AN $ 2 MILLION 5 new artist records Av e r ag e p r i c e p e r lo t o f $ 1 7 2 , 2 6 2
above: Heffel’s Spring Live Auction, June 23, 2021, Digital Saleroom
above: E.J. Hughes, The Beach at Kalamalka Lake oil on canvas, 1962 25 × 32 inches Sold June 23, 2021 for $391,250
i n v i tat i o n t o c o n s i g n We are now accepting artworks for our fall auctions, including: Post-War & Contemporary Art Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Art International Graphics & Pop Art Prints Asian Art and more Heffel auctions are inclusive of international works of art.
decades of building lasting relationships with renowned organizations and institutions. We had the honour of partnering with the Foundation of the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec in April. We presented a selection of prints by Alfred Pellan sold to benefit the Foundation, in order to support the Museum’s exhibitions and educational projects. This spring, we also worked with the Vancouver Art Gallery on their outstanding annual art auction, Spring Forward, to benefit the museum. The sale featured 32 outstanding artworks by celebrated artists, including Gathie Falk, Michael Lin, Bobbie Burgers, Cindy Sherman and Canadian comedy legend Seth Rogen. We are very proud to partner with The Estate of Betty Goodwin, and had the pleasure of offering a number of important works this season. In March, we held a dedicated specialty auction of prints from the Estate and also offered two exceptional examples through our live auction of Post-War & Contemporary Art. Looking ahead to the rest of this year, there are so many new and exciting partnerships and events we are eager to share with all of you. We are over the moon to be partnering once again with Burrard Arts Foundation (BAF) to host Together Again | BAF Exhibition and Auction for Alumni Artists, open for bidding on Heffel. com from August 10 to 24. The works will be available for viewing at BAF beginning in July. This September, in a dedicated online auction, Heffel will be offering an incredible selection of artworks by Alex Colville from the collection of Peggy Marko, featuring 17 exemplary works, including a significant grouping of studies and well-known serigraphs. The collection is a testament to Marko’s passion for the arts and her leading role as President of the Edmonton Art Gallery, now the Art Gallery of Alberta, in 1985. We look forward to offering a selection of artworks in partnership with the Weston Group of Companies. More than 40 works will be offered through our Online Auction Partnerships (HO2) platform from August 3 to 12, highlighted by renowned Canadian and international artists, including Marcel Barbeau, Clarence Gagnon, Kenneth Lochhead and Pierre Soulages, among many others. Keep an eye on our website and your inbox for details about more exciting collaborations and specialty sales this spring, and please feel free to contact our team of specialists if this type of sale suits your collection. As we sign off for the summer and close the book on this season, which has been both challenging and exciting, we thank you all for your continued support, partnership, patronage and friendship. Enjoy the sunshine and time with your loved ones this summer.
A UC T ION RE S U LT S S p rin g & s U M M E R 2 0 2 1 The following Lots were sold at the prices stated. Lot numbers that are omitted represent items which were withdrawn, passed or unsold as of the publication of this list. Prices include Buyer’s Premium. Heffel Fine Art Auction House is not responsible for typographical errors or omissions. All content in this newsletter is subject to our published Terms and Conditions of Business and our Catalogue Terms. Live Auction (June 23, 2021)
$14, 8 14, 5 00
Post-War & Contemporary Art
$5, 1 72,750
Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Art
$9, 6 41,750
May Online Auction (May 27, 2021)
O v e r all S p r i n g & sUMMER 2 0 2 1 S al e T o tal : $16,554 , 438 (i n c l u d i n g B u y e r ’ s P r e m i u m)
$1,739, 9 38
Overall Spring & Summer Sale Total (including Buyer’s Premium) $16,554,438 Date of Publication
July 27, 2021
L O T NO . PRICE
L O T NO . PRICE
L O T NO . PRICE
L O T NO . PRICE
L O T NO . PRICE
L O T NO . PRICE
1 $61,250
16 $391,250
33 $13,750
102 $40,250
117 $73,250
131 $121,250
2 $85,250
17 $265,250
34 $22,500
103 $85,250
118 $31,250
132 $85,250
3 $20,000
18 $181,250
35 $18,750
104 $205,250
119 $79,250
133 $103,250
4 $31,250
19 $73,250
37 $205,250
105 $109,250
120 $2,341,250
134 $85,250
5 $67,250
20 $265,250
39 $361,250
106 $43,250
121 $229,250
135 $43,250
6 $85,250
21 $169,250
40 $289,250
107 $31,250
122 $571,250
136 $52,250
7 $79,250
22 $18,750
41 $46,250
108 $109,250
123 $58,250
137 $73,250
8 $67,250
23 $28,125
43 $10,000
109 $61,250
124 $73,250
138 $79,250
9 $391,250
25 $46,250
44 $28,125
110 $121,250
125 $79,250
139 $205,250
10 $217,250
26 $97,250
45 $73,250
111 $133,250
126 $79,250
140 $37,250
11 $169,250
27 $181,250
46 $20,000
112 $229,250
127 $43,250
141 $31,250
12 $16,250
28 $37,250
47 $31,250
113 $115,250
128 $43,250
142 $34,250
13 $145,250
29 $22,500
48 $43,250
115 $79,250
129 $121,250
143 $61,250
14 $85,250
30 $67,250
101 $193,250
116 $3,121,250
130 $67,250
144 $61,250
15 $103,250
32 $541,250
Thank you to all of the consignors, collectors and enthusiasts who made our sale a success.
F i n e A r t A u c t i o n H o u s e V a n c o u v e r · C a l g a r y · T o r o n t o · Ott a w a · M o n t r e a l mail@heffel.com · 1·888·818·6505 · heffel.com