— AUCTIONS —
The Kelton Collection Indigenous Art at Leonard Joel
An Important Private Collection of Aboriginal Australian Art When hearing a collector’s story, we can often take for
this lens, these objects, subjects and histories interact in
granted the intricate decision making and refined focus
dynamic and provocative ways.
The Kelton Collection -
Richard Kelton first encountered Aboriginal art in 1979
Indigenous Art at
that is required to retain the integrity of their collection. This level of care and consideration is even more impressive when combined with genuine passion and enthusiasm.
when he joined a scientific expeditionary sailing trip to Australia. Subsequently, he began acquiring select paintings
Collected over four decades by the late Mr. Richard Kelton
from Papunya Tula, and sculpture from Western Arnhem
(1929-2019), the Kelton Collection is arguably one of the
and the Tiwi Islands, and so began a lifelong passion for
most important private collections of Aboriginal Australian
Australian Indigenous art.
art. Richard Kelton was an indefatigable collector, and his seemingly idiosyncratic collection is best understood through his principal preoccupations: sailing, water and the Pacific Ocean. Other pillars of his collection include art of the China Trade, Paul Gauguin’s Tahiti paintings and sculptures, Oceanic art and artifacts, maritime art and instruments, and the California plein air artists. Through
8 | leonardjoel.com.au
Over the next four decades, Kelton’s interest in and appreciation of Aboriginal artists and art saw his collection grow to over 1,500 works, all housed in his Marina del Rey residence in California. His frequent trips to Australia guaranteed access to some of the best quality works available at the time. Richard Kelton was an early advocate for Aboriginal art to be shown in museums within the same
Leonard Joel Mon 11 Apr, 6pm MELBOURNE
ABOVE : DICK NGULEI-NGULEI
MURRUMURRU (1920-1988) Mimi Spirits and Namorrodo Spirits c.1975 natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark 35.5 x 56cm $5,000 – 7,000
