F A L L 2 0 2 3 new s l etter
FA L L 2 0 2 3 A N D T H E Y E A R I N R E V I E W Happy New Year from the Heffel team! We hope you had a fantastic holiday season and enjoyed quality time with family and friends. On the heels of a very exciting 2023, filled with exceptional art, global collector enthusiasm and a thriving auction market, it is our pleasure to share some of the many highlights and dive into our plans for the new year. The year ended with a bang, as we wrapped Heffel’s fall season with our semi-annual live auction in Toronto. The sale was once again presented in our state-of-the-art Yorkville auction room to passionate in-room bidders and a remote global audience through our Digital Saleroom. A number of spectacular works by Jean Paul Riopelle stole the show as the world celebrated the 100th anniversary of his birth, alongside an exceptionally rare canvas by Emily Carr depicting Alert Bay and a prime-period 1955 Paul-Émile Borduas painting, totalling an incredible $24 million, which we are proud to say was an industry high. The resounding success and record results set the stage for an equally exciting 2024.
The Year of Riopelle In 2023, the world united in a year of celebrations of Jean Paul Riopelle, marking the centenary of his birth with global events and major auction achievements. It was an esteemed privilege for us to present seven exceptional Riopelle paintings at our fall auction, where they took centre stage amidst the extraordinary collection of works. The enthusiasm and results were truly spectacular, underscoring Riopelle’s lasting global Royal Canadian Mint, 2023 Pure Gold EHR Coin, Petit hibou, by Jean Paul Riopelle © Estate of Jean Paul Riopelle CARCC 2023
influence and the excitement surrounding this important milestone. Leading the group was Sans titre (Composition #2), a palette-knifeand-drip canvas painted in 1951, which saw bids from across the world and a remarkable result of $5,701,250. In the same spirited sale, the rare portrait Self found a new home when it sold for $3,901,250. Heffel also held a commemorative online auction in the fall, Riopelle & His Contemporaries, which drew interest and participation from around the globe. Throughout the year, the global art community and others organized a number of impactful events, projects and museum exhibitions, paying homage to Riopelle’s enduring legacy on his 100th birthday. Among these tributes is the major retrospective Riopelle: Crossroads in Time, currently on view at the National Gallery of Canada, a show we are very proud to sponsor. Simultaneously, the Musée national d’art moderne at the Centre Pompidou in Paris is hosting a significant exhibition of Riopelle’s work, also on now until April 2024. Joining in the celebrations, the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled two special commemorative gold coins featuring iconic Riopelle imagery in the fall, underlining the artist’s profound impact on Canadian art and culture. The coins are available for purchase
J e a n Pau l R i o p e ll e , Sans titre (Composition #2) oil on canvas, 1951 50 × 64 1/2 inches Estimate: $3,000,000 – $5,000,000 Sold November 23, 2023 for $5,701,250
at Heffel and are a wonderful way to add Riopelle’s art to your collection. Heffel proudly supports Riopelle’s legacy on an ongoing basis through exhibitions, events, publications and other initiatives, and we are honoured that our name is synonymous with the Riopelle secondary market. Over many decades, Heffel has sold more than 400 works by Riopelle through our live auctions, online auctions and private sales.
Expanding Our Horizons We’re pleased to share that Heffel is continuing to expand our auction categories, diversifying and enriching our offerings. In 2023, our Asian Art auctions were resounding successes, drawing enthusiastic global participation. Expert Anthony Wu has been instrumental in growing this department, thanks to his wealth of knowledge in Asian art of many forms. Our next Asian Art auction is scheduled for April 2024 and we are currently accepting consignments.
happy to assist and look forward to learning more about your collection and goals. In 2023, Heffel held a number of successful selling exhibitions, featuring outstanding works by beloved artists such as Joe Fafard, Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, Alex Colville and Dorothy Knowles. Looking ahead, we are very excited about two pivotal exhibitions on the horizon. This January, we will be showcasing sought-after new works by contemporary landscape artist Ross Penhall in a show opening on January 27, and in March we will be holding a selling exhibition titled Shorelines: Works by Doris McCarthy & Wendy Wacko, opening March 14.
Global Engagement and Successes
A.J. Casson, Poplar (estimate: $125,000 – $175,000, sold for $391,250), selling in the Heffel state-of-the-art Yorkville auction room on November 23, 2023
Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce our upcoming inaugural online auction of Design this fall, a brand new category for Heffel. The sale will feature works of contemporary and modern twentieth-century design, including highly collectible furniture, ceramics, glass and decorative objects. We have also been expanding our Numismatics category at Heffel, and we continually aim to create an engaging and innovative collecting environment. Heffel currently partners with the Royal Canadian Mint to offer a special selection of coins for purchase, and we will be holding the department’s first online auction in spring 2024. We welcome consignments for this exciting sale, featuring coins from Canada, China and around the world, and invite collectors to share their rare and fascinating numismatic treasures. We will also be planning a sale of Designer Handbags in the near future. Look out for further details later in the year. If you are interested in discussing or consigning items suited for these sales, please reach out to our team of specialists for complimentary auction appraisal.
Private Sales and Exhibitions Over many decades, our dedication to connecting exceptional works of art with collectors has extended beyond the auction room through successful private sales and gallery representation. Throughout 2023, we facilitated the sale of many important works and placed them in esteemed collections around the world, while achieving the goals of our consignors. If selling your work privately is of interest, our team of specialists would be very
In an ever-changing and dynamic market, the seamless fusion of Heffel’s live and online platforms over the last number of years has ignited an incredible wave of global engagement and
To m T h o m so n, Early Spring, Canoe Lake oil on panel 8 1/2 × 10 1/2 inches Estimate: $600,000 – $800,000 Sold for $2,749,500
i n v i tat i o n t o c o n s i g n We are now accepting artworks for our spring 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
exhibition Cassatt – McNicoll: Impressionists Between Worlds, as well as the McMichael Canadian Art Collection’s Tom Thomson: North Star, which will soon be touring the Audain Art Museum and the Art Gallery of Alberta. At the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, we proudly supported Kathryn Bridge’s wonderful exhibition Unexpected: The Life and Art of Sophie Pemberton, Canadian Artist. Continuing into the new year, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is currently exhibiting the captivating Françoise Sullivan: “I let rhythms flow,” which Heffel is honoured to support until its closing in February 2024.
In Memory of Rosalin Te Omra (1949 – 2023)
J e a n Paul Riope lle , Self oil on canvas, 1959 51 × 38 inches Estimate: $600,000 – $800,000 Sold November 23, 2023 for $3,901,250
created an auction experience that resonates across continents. We are very proud of our extensive reach worldwide; our relationships have fueled consistent record-breaking results for significant international artworks, and have helped place wonderful Canadian works in important collections outside the country. Over the last year alone, it has been a joy to find new homes for works by Andy Warhol, Alex Katz and Jean Arp among many other art market giants. As we consider a new year of consignments and a fresh slate of auctions, we are encouraged by the passion of our collectors and the enthusiasm we continue to see across all areas of the market. We are honoured to maintain
the highest success rate in the industry, a testament to our dedicated team and the trust placed in us by collectors and consignors alike. The year 2023 was one of the strongest years ever for Heffel. As industry leaders, we are committed to shaping the future of the Canadian art market and providing the best possible service to our collectors along the way.
Championing the Arts in Canada In our ongoing commitment to championing the arts across Canada, Heffel takes pride in providing steadfast support for important projects, exhibitions and publications each year. Throughout the fall season, we were delighted to sponsor several significant shows at prominent Canadian institutions. In Ontario, our support extended to the Art Gallery of Ontario’s groundbreaking
In the summer of 2023, the Heffel team sadly lost one of our most treasured colleagues, Rosalin Te Omra, after a short battle with cancer. Roz was proudly Heffel’s longest-standing employee. She had enthusiastically joined the company in 1978, when Kenneth Heffel acquired the Royal Bank of Canada building on Vancouver’s South Granville where she worked. Through her 45-year career with the company, Roz focused on research and writing; she eventually became the Director of Fine Canadian Art Research, a position she excelled at every day. In memory of Roz, and to mark her unforgettable contributions, Heffel has initiated the Rosalin Te Omra Award at the University of British Columbia, for a third- or fourth-year art history student who has achieved academic excellence. The annual award will pay tribute to Roz’s life and career in the Canadian art world by supporting students studying art history. The Heffel family and team will remember with warmth and fondness the many years of laughter, inspiration, learning and the unique expertise that Roz shared with all of us.
Looking Forward As we embark on another year of dynamic auctions, Heffel is currently seeking consignments for the spring 2024 season, encompassing international works of art. The deadline to consign to our major spring auction of Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Art and Post-War & Contemporary Art is February 28, 2024, and we continually welcome consignments for our full calendar of online auctions. We want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our wonderful collectors and colleagues for your ongoing support and trust throughout 2023. Your encouragement and passion inspire us on a daily basis, motivating us to push boundaries and reach new heights in the art market. Wishing you all a very happy and healthy year ahead.
A U C TION R ESU LTS FA LL 2 0 2 3 The following Lots were sold at the prices stated. Lot numbers that are omitted represent items which were withdrawn, passed or unsold as of the publication of this list. Prices include Buyer’s Premium. Heffel Fine Art Auction House is not responsible for typographical errors or omissions. All content in this newsletter is subject to our published Terms and Conditions of Business and our Catalogue Terms. Live Auction (November 23, 2023)
$23, 963,875
Post-War & Contemporary Art
$18,269,250
Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Art
$5, 694,625
November Online Auction (November 30, 2023)
$2,268,838
Overall Fall Sale Total (including Buyer’s Premium)
$26,232,713
Date of Publication
O v e rall Fall 2 0 2 3 Sal e T o tal : $ 2 6 , 2 3 2 ,7 13 (i n c l u d i n g B u y e r ’ s P r e m i u m)
January 17, 2024
L OT NO .
PRICE
L OT NO .
PRICE
L OT NO .
1
$46,250
18
$169,250
35
2
$15,000
19
$301,250
36
3
$91,250
21
$157,250
4
$361,250
22
$169,250
5
$541,250
23
6
$109,250
7 8
PRICE
L OT NO .
PRICE
L OT NO .
PRICE
L OT NO .
PRICE
$1,441,250
102
$43,250
117
$49,250
132
$28,125
$481,250
104
$52,250
118
$61,250
133
$85,250
37
$325,250
105
$40,250
119
$18,750
134
$181,250
38
$85,250
106
$277,250
120
$22,500
135
$133,250
$49,250
39
$145,250
107
$28,125
121
$21,250
136
$31,250
24
$43,250
40
$67,250
108
$28,125
122
$391,250
137
$55,250
$85,250
25
$73,250
41
$181,250
109
$31,250
123
$121,250
138
$28,125
$85,250
26
$9,375
42
$253,250
110
$61,250
124
$49,250
141
$40,250
10
$157,250
27
$457,250
43
$169,250
111
$43,250
125
$511,250
142
$40,250
11
$223,250
28
$67,250
44
$52,250
112
$1,681,250
126
$133,250
143
$46,250
12
$5,701,250
29
$157,250
45
$37,250
113
$103,250
127
$313,250
144
$34,250
13
$223,250
30
$103,250
46
$55,250
114
$133,250
128
$109,250
145
$28,125
14
$3,901,250
31
$601,250
47
$28,125
115
$34,250
129
$301,250
146
$52,250
15
$397,250
34
$421,250
101
$25,000
116
$55,250
131
$49,250
147
$121,250
16
$229,250
Thank you to all of the consignors, collectors and enthusiasts who made our sale a success.
Fine Art Auction House
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