S p r i n g & S u m m e r 2 0 2 3 new s l e t t er
Spring & Summer 2023 IN REVIEW As we reflect on the highlights and memorable moments that have shaped the first half of the year in the Canadian art market, we hope this finds you enjoying the summer sunshine with your family and friends. We are delighted to bring you a recap of an exhilarating auction season at Heffel, filled with exceptional artworks, spirited bidding and significant milestones. Heffel’s marquee spring auction took place on May 25 in Toronto, and saw recordbreaking sales that underscored the vitality of the art market in Canada. Following wellattended previews across the country in Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto, we presented the curated collection to a global audience, live from our brand new Yorkville auction room, highlighted by fresh-to-themarket masterpieces by Emily Carr, Alex Colville, Lawren Harris and E.J. Hughes, among many others. It was truly an unforgettable sale; the auction room buzzed with excitement and enthusiasm as it overflowed with passionate bidders who, along with participants on the phone and through Heffel’s Digital Saleroom, propelled the sale to success. As esteemed works found their homes, new benchmarks were set, signifying the unwavering appetite for Canadian and international masterworks. The sale resulted in an industryhigh success rate of 95%. Alex Colville’s June Noon led the auction, after surpassing the $2 million mark amidst intense bidding. This commanding painting, consigned from the renowned Langen Collection in Europe, where it resided for more than 50 years, thoughtfully portrays the artist and his wife, Rhoda. Produced in 1963, the important work first garnered attention when it was exhibited at the 1966 Venice Biennale, and has been highly sought after and widely exhibited ever since. Emily Carr’s striking Sitka Totem Pole, E.J. Hughes’s exceptional Abandoned Village, Rivers Inlet, BC and Lawren Harris’s Northern Image each exceeded $1 million, and Andy Warhol’s Bald Eagle set a global auction record for the iconic screenprint.
Online Auction Milestones and Updates Our online auctions have exceeded expectations this year, driven by our user-friendly platform, a diverse selection of works and
significant global participation, benefiting both consignors and collectors. Our monthly sales over the last few months have featured specialty sessions across a number of important focuses and categories, including our recordbreaking Asian Art sale; Pop Art Prints & International Graphics, featuring some of the biggest names in the international art market; 100 Years of Riopelle, celebrating the artist’s centenary; and Pioneering Women of Canadian Art, to name just a few. As we look ahead at our summer and fall seasons, we are excited to continue breaking the mold in the online auction sector, and bring fresh and exciting sales to our growing audience of budding and seasoned collectors. The Heffel team is deeply grateful to our consignors for the trust and confidence placed in our expertise, and we are honoured to have played a part in connecting so many
A l e xa nd e r Co lv i l l e June Noon acrylic polymer emulsion on board, 1963 30 × 30 inches Sold May 25, 2023 for $2,161,250
extraordinary works with their new owners. The outstanding results achieved in our recent online and live sales reflect the impressive artworks on offer, the passion of collectors across the world, and the vibrant and incredibly strong auction market. We look forward to sharing more incredible works with you over the next few months.
Fafard & Friends: A Selling Exhibition This July, we are very pleased to present a fantastic touring exhibition of works by late artist