S p r i n g & S u m m e r 2 0 2 5 new s l e t t er
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.
L awr e n St ewa rt H a r r i s Northern Lake oil on canvas, 1926 36 1/2 × 45 1/2 inches Sold May 22, 2025 for $3,121,250
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