Sales signal rebound

Aboriginal Art Directory | 10.08.10

The [Melbourne Art Fair] closed yesterday with some galleries reporting weaker high-end sales but overall results equal to the previous fair in 2008.

Melbourne's Sophie Gannon Gallery sold 20 works worth a total of $120,000, Sydney's Tim Olsen Gallery achieved about $200,000 from 15 works and Grant Smith, from indigenous art specialists Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, realised $140,000 in sales.

Mr Smith said the market for Aboriginal paintings was strong despite two recent weak auctions that rattled the industry.

The National Gallery of Victoria paid $8800 for Witchetty Grub Story by in-demand newcomer Ngupulya Pumani. "I could have sold that painting at least 10 times," Mr Smith said.

Sydney gallery Roslyn Oxley 9 sold a 30-year-old Rosalie Gasgoyne tableau of newspapers for $165,000 to a private collector. Ms Oxley said business had been tough in the past month but sales at the fair were better than in 2008.

URL: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/sales-signal-rebound/story-e6frg6nf-1225902759079

Share this: » del.icio.us » Digg it » reddit » Google » StumbleUpon » Technorati » Facebook