S p r i n g & S u m m e r 2 0 2 4 new s l e t t er
Spring & Summer 2024 IN REVIEW A Legendary Spring On the heels of an incredibly rewarding spring auction season, we are thrilled to share with you the latest updates from Heffel. From realizing record-breaking sales to launching category expansions to championing incredible exhibitions, it has been an exciting time for our team and for Canada’s art market, and we couldn’t have reached these heights without your unwavering support. Our spring live auction on May 23 was truly electrifying, attracting enthusiastic global bidders in a shared celebration of art from around the world. We presented more than 90 works to a packed saleroom, buzzing with excitement. The crowd’s claps and cheers contributed to the room’s contagious energy, as three sessions of record-breaking sales propelled the evening to a spectacular success, including a white-glove (100% sold) result for our session of Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Art. A Jean Paul Riopelle masterpiece from the esteemed collection of Torben V. Kristiansen headlined the sale, alongside major examples by Tom Thomson, Emily Carr and other art giants, collectively achieving $23 million. Works by six important artists set new auction benchmarks, including deserving artist records for Mary Pratt, Prudence Heward, Takao Tanabe and Christiane Pflug. A very special addition to our long-standing sessions of Post-War & Contemporary Art and Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Art was a third session titled Legendary: The Collection of Torben V. Kristiansen, one of the most extraordinary single-consignor collections ever to come to market in Canada. Known for his impeccable taste and deep love for the works he collected, Torben, who passed away in 2023, was a force in the Canadian art world. His relationship with the Heffel family began with Kenneth G. Heffel, David and Robert’s late father. Torben was larger than life and a dear friend, mentor and colleague. It has been our absolute honour to work with his loving family to bring his collection to market. Coveted masterpieces and rare gems by the biggest names in Canadian art highlighted the special live auction catalogue. The works
garnered global participation and totaled an astounding $9.1 million. Additional works from the collection found new homes through a curated Heffel online auction in May, and there are still more works to come! The spring live auction overall achieved a 97% sell-through rate, an industry high across the Canadian market and among the highest in
J e a n Pau l R i o p e l l e Verts ombreuses oil on canvas, 1949 45 3/4 × 35 inches Sold May 23, 2024 for $2,761,250
the world this season. These record-breaking sales and strong performances across various