Staff Reports | Community Updates
Scottsdale Art Auction’s two-day Summer Sale generated $3.2 million in sales, marking the highest August auction total in the company’s history and reflecting continued demand for Western, wildlife and sporting art.
Held Aug. 21-22, the auction featured 507 lots, with 503 selling for a 99.4% sell-through rate. Strong bidding was driven by works from contemporary Western artists and pieces by Western illustrator, artist and novelist Will James from the A.P. Hays Collection of Western Art, according to a press release.
“Our August auction as well as our April auction proved without a doubt that the market for classic and contemporary art is not just alive and well but absolutely thriving,” Scottsdale Art Auction Co-Owner Brad Richardson said. “Our August auction saw over three thousand people bidding online across our three platforms, more than ever before. Additionally, we are continually seeing new and very active buyers on the market and sold works are being sent out all over the country.”
Will James collection draws strong bidding
Sixteen works from the A.P. Hays Collection of Western Art by Will James generated a combined $305,100, surpassing pre-sale estimates.
Among the top-performing pieces were Eventually, which sold for $51,000 against an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000; Smoky and his Mammy, which brought $39,000 against an estimate of $6,000 to $9,000; and A Real Bronco, which sold for $33,000 against an estimate of $7,000 to $10,000.
Other notable Will James sales included Old Blue-Horses I’ve Known at $33,000, Who’s Humane at $30,000 and In the Saddle with Uncle Bill at $27,000.
Contemporary Western artists post strong results
Several artists associated with the New West movement generated some of the auction’s highest prices.
Arizona artist Ed Mell’s Evening Storm sold for $84,000, exceeding its estimate of $35,000 to $55,000, while Canyon Fog brought $66,000.
Billy Schenck’s Under the Sheltering Sky sold for $72,000 against an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000, while Cowgirl realized $36,000 against an estimate of $7,000 to $11,000.
John Nieto’s Buffalo Medicine — 1999 sold for $66,000, exceeding its estimate of $20,000 to $30,000.
Works by newer artists also performed well, including Logan Hagege’s Sky Flower 2 at $45,000, Kyle Polzin’s Leading the Charge at $36,000 and Kim Wiggins’ The Dispute of Don Cristobal at $24,000.
Traditional Western art remains strong
Traditional Western art also attracted significant interest during the auction. Three paintings by Martin Grelle led that category, with The Buffalo Rattler selling for $96,000. Crossing the Greasy Grass realized $48,000, while Winter Coat brought $39,000.
Works by members of the Taos Society of Artists also posted strong results. E. Martin Hennings’ Aspens sold for $84,000 against an estimate of $50,000 to $75,000, while two floral paintings by Joseph Henry Sharp sold for $27,000 each.
