The sixth annual Jackson Hole Art Auction was conducted on September 15 at the Center for the Arts. Hosted by Trailside Galleries and Gerald Peters Gallery, the auction sold more than 80 percent of the featured 300 lots, realizing $7.7 million. As the auction got under way, the Center for the Arts auditorium was filled with active bidders that have made this auction their annual destination each September. Bidding was very active, with more than 300 phone and absentee bids. Internet bidders also participated in much of the sale.
The selection of paintings by wildlife artist Carl Rungius brought more than $1 million, with the highlight “Grizzly Bear and Cubs,” a 24-by-32-inch oil on canvas bringing $373,750. The two other major Rungius paintings featuring bighorn sheep brought $345,000 and $184,000. Another wildlife highlight was a 41-by-71-inch oil on canvas painting of a moose by Wilhem Kuhnert that brought $92,000.
Highlights from deceased Western masters included Frederic Remington’s “John Ermine,” a 22½-by-15-inch pastel over halftone, which sold for $690,000; the cover lot, Charles Russell’s 13-by-20-inch oil on canvas “Unbranded” sold for $575,000; W.R. Leigh’s “Bucking Bronco with Cowboy,” a 30-by-22-inch oil on canvas, brought $345,000; W. Herbet Dunton’s “The Trail Boss,” a 36-by-24-inch oil on canvas, finished at $276,000; and Frank Tenney Johnson’s “North Fork, Shoshone River, Wyoming,” an oil on board, 20 by 16 inches, fetched $218,500.
A selection of 15 paintings from a Texas corporate art collection boasted a 100 percent sell-through rate, with highlights including G. Harvey’s “Changing Seasons,” a 24-by-30-inch oil on canvas that brought $74,750. A second G. Harvey oil on canvas from the same collection titled “Gentle Times,” 20 by 24 inches, took $46,000. A third G. Harvey oil on canvas in the sale from a private collection in Colorado titled “Chancellorsville,” 30 by 40 inches, went out at $218,500.
Contemporary artists’ work saw active bidding and strong prices. The six featured Martin Grelle paintings sold, with the highlight “A Hunter’s Tale,” an 18-by-28-inch oil on canvas, bringing $43,125. Bonnie Marris’ “Morning Magic” sold for $51,750. The 40-by-30-inch oil on linen had been painted for the Jackson Hole Art Auction. Richard Schmid’s “Brattleboro Winter, Vermont,” a 12-by-24-inch oil on canvas sold for $40,250. Scott Christensen’s “California Coast,” an oil on canvas, 24 by 20 inches, realized $12,650.
An additional highlight was Sydney Laurence’s “Mt McKinley,” a 20-by-16-inch oil on canvas, which exceeded its $20/30,000 estimate to command $57,500.
Prices reported include the buyer’s premium.
For more information, www.jacksonholeartauction.com or 866-549-9278.
