Spring & Summer 2025 IN REVIEW
A Monumental Spring
This season marked a defining moment for Heffel and the Canadian art market. In May, our team had the great honour of presenting a landmark live auction devoted entirely to Canadian masterworks—a watershed evening that brought together collectors from across the country and around the world in a shared celebration of Canada’s most legendary artists.
The energy in our Toronto saleroom was palpable as important works by Lawren Harris, Franklin Carmichael and Arthur Lismer—three historic canvases from the collection of the University Club of Toronto—took centre stage. These museum-calibre Group of Seven paintings, deeply rooted in institutional history and national pride, anchored an unforgettable sale that honoured the iconic national art movement and helped shape the next chapter for these cultural treasures.
The momentum continued throughout the evening, with major paintings by Tom Thomson, Emily Carr, Helen McNicoll and others captivating collectors and inspiring rounds of applause. Several works achieved historic milestones, including new auction records for Franklin Carmichael, whose radiant masterpiece Leaf Pattern (1922) drew intense interest, and Arthur Lismer, whose painting McGregor Bay Islands (1925) marked the artist’s first million-dollar result. A.Y. Jackson also reached a new high with his breathtaking canvas Night on the Skeena River (1927), and Daphne Odjig’s luminous canvas Awakening of Spring (1985) set a well-deserved benchmark for the beloved Indigenous artist. Heffel is proud to hold the global auction records for each original member of the Group of Seven, as well as Tom Thomson and Emily Carr.
Thomson’s rare oil sketches continue to hold a special place in the hearts of collectors, and three extraordinary examples from circa 1914—Autumn, Algonquin Park; Canoe Lake, Algonquin Park; and Dawn on Round Lake (Kawawaymog Lake)—each exceeded the million-dollar mark, reaffirming the artist’s status as a national icon.
This was more than a successful auction—it was a powerful affirmation of
Canada’s cultural legacy and a celebration of the collectors, families and institutions who continue to champion it. We were privileged to steward these national treasures and are sincerely grateful for the trust placed in us by those who consigned and acquired these remarkable works.
Alongside the success of our Spring auction, Heffel’s online auctions continue to thrive and expand. With our advanced digital platform and a calendar filled with curated specialty sales, we have already seen exceptional results across all categories in 2025. We were pleased to present highperforming online auctions in categories such as Canadian Art, Post-War & Contemporary, Pop Art, Inuit Art, and International Art, as well as rare and collectible objects across our Asian Art and Luxury Handbags categories. Strong global engagement and an influx of emerging collectors reaffirm the growing appetite for top-tier artworks and the ease and enjoyment of our online experience.
Celebrating 30 Years of Heffel Auctions
This fall marks an extraordinary milestone for the firm: 30 years since Heffel’s first fine art auction in 1995. Our roots, however, go back much further—Kenneth G. Heffel began collecting art in 1968 and founded Heffel Gallery in 1978, laying the foundation for what would become Canada’s leading fine art auction house. In honour of this anniversary, we are preparing a landmark live auction event that will celebrate the artists, collectors and families who have shaped our story.
Since our inaugural auction in 1995, we have proudly built a reputation for excellence
Sold May 22, 2025 for $2,281,250
in presenting important works of art and leading the Canadian market. We have been incredibly honoured to work with the families, corporations and institutions that have entrusted us over the years, and to celebrate the foundational collectors who helped launch and grow our business.
Our Fall 2025 live auction will reflect this legacy and look ahead to the future. The sale will feature major works by both Canadian and international artists as well as masterworks from collections that have played a significant role in our story. The auction will be a celebration not only of Heffel’s history but also of the community of collectors and contributors who have shaped the Canadian art landscape over the past three decades.
We would be delighted to speak with you about your collection and how it might be part of this special event. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss the opportunities for inclusion in this milestone sale.
Championing Arts and Culture in Canada
At Heffel, we are proud to support and champion institutions and projects that help strengthen the cultural fabric of Canada. The exceptional traveling exhibition Riopelle: Crossroads in Time, which opened at the
Vancouver Art Gallery in March 2025, remains on view through the summer, closing on September 1. This ambitious retrospective explores the enduring influence and innovation of Jean Paul Riopelle’s practice across decades and disciplines and honours his recent centenary.
We are also pleased to support the publication 7IDANsuu James Hart: A Monumental
Practice, produced in collaboration with the Audain Art Museum.
In June, it was our privilege to support Bruce Bailey’s annual Fête Champêtre, a joyful and meaningful celebration in support of the arts. In addition to hosting an online auction to benefit the event, members of the Heffel team joined in the festivities, which this year honoured the incomparable Margaret Atwood. The fundraiser and charity auction were both great successes, with Consignor proceeds benefiting the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and donations also directed to the Canadian Opera Company, the Glenbow Museum, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and the Pelee Island Bird Observatory.
Canadian art is taking the global spotlight this year with masterworks by Emily Carr, Tom Thomson and members of the Group of Seven featured in the blockbuster touring exhibition Northern Lights. Following a tremendously successful showing at the Fondation Beyeler near Basel, Switzerland, the exhibition will open on August 1, 2025, at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum in New York. Among the highlights are works by international giants alongside a few familiar favourites, including Mountain Forms by Lawren Harris—sold by Heffel in 2016, the record for the most valuable work of Canadian art ever sold at auction. The exhibition represents a standout moment for
aL exander Young ( a .Y.) Jack S on Night on the Skeena
25 1/4 × 32 1/8 inches
Sold May 22, 2025 for $ 1,081,250
Canadian art, and it is extremely exciting to see these national treasures celebrated on the world stage.
We would like to congratulate Lilly Lester, the 2025 recipient of the annual Patsy and David Heffel Award in Art History at the University of British Columbia. We are delighted to support emerging leaders in the field and encourage continued engagement with the visual arts.
Heffel remains deeply committed to advancing the arts across Canada and beyond. We encourage you to reach out to the Heffel
Foundation if there is a project, initiative or institution you feel would benefit from our support in fostering arts education, access and excellence.
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on the incredible momentum of 2025 so far, we are filled with gratitude for the support of our collectors and the strength of the art community across Canada and beyond. We look forward to welcoming you into our galleries and salerooms in the months ahead,
m arce LL e Ferron,
oil on canvas, 1962
63 3/4 × 51 inches
Estimate: $200,000 – $300,000
Sold for a record $1,801,250 (including Buyer’s Premium)
whether to explore, consign or simply connect. We are always accepting consignments for our upcoming auctions and private sales, including our landmark 30th anniversary live auction this November. Whether you’re considering consigning a single work or a full collection, our team is here to guide you through every step of the process with care, transparency and expertise.
We wish you a summer filled with art, inspiration and discovery—and we can’t wait to share what’s next.
Estimate: $1,200,000 – $1,600,000
Sold for a record $3,393,000 (including Buyer’s Premium)
invitation to con S ign C E l E b R at IN g 30 y E a R s of a uCt I o N s (1995 – 2025)
Showcase your masterworks in this monumental live auction.
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.