‘StripClub' Success at Art + Object

By Briar Williams in Auckland, on 04-Apr-2014

As the auction start time ticked on past 6.30pm, at the Art + Object Important Paintings and Contemporary Art sale in Auckland on April 3, auctioneer Ben Plumbly advised we were waiting for the arrival of the cheekily named ‘StripClub’ art group who were the vendors of lots 1-29. It was lucky he did as they provided the sale with a lively start. 

The vendor for the first 29 lots at the Art + Object Important Paintings and Contemporary Art sale in Auckland on April 3, was the cheekily named ‘StripClub’ art group and these lots provided the sale with a lively start. Highest price for this group of works went to auction darling Liz Maw, whose work The Rose sold for $13,000 against a low estimate of $8,000.

Their collection of contemporary artworks, all purchased from the dealer galleries around the K’Rd strip club area of Auckland, proved popular with both members of the group and non-related bidders. Boasting an 86% clearance rate for this section of the auction, the highest price went to auction darling Liz Maw, whose work The Rose (Lot 15 ) sold for $13,000 against a low estimate of $8,000.

Then it was onwards into the mixed vendor section with lots of paintings selling around the $5,000-$10,000 bracket or getting just a bid or two under with the expectation that these sales will be negotiated in the following days.

It was something of a surprise given the quality of the McCahon’s on offer, that (Lot 55 ), Milan Mrkusich Painting II, Blue 1972 became the most contested painting of the sale and achieved one of the highest prices of the night. It slowly crept past its $70,000 reserve arriving at $107,000 hammer setting a new auction record for the artist.

Art + Object had managed to source some important McCahon’s for this sale and had the inspired idea of hosting a one off viewing day at McCahon’s Titirangi house and studio where the artist lived from 1954-1959. Artworks in the sale were placed in situ. Helped along by TV and newspaper press, record crowds turned out to see the works, two of which were painted at this location.

Although this is a lovely way to allow people to really connect with the artworks, it seemed that the price tags were maybe too high for the general public with two of the four selling under the hammer and only one surpassing low estimate. This painting was (Lot 59 ), Black and White Landscape, its whereabouts was unknown after it was last exhibited in McCahon’s important exhibition, Recent Paintings 1958. Everyone loves a mystery and this unrecorded painting was strongly contested in the room to sell for $125,000 hammer.

Overall Art + Object can be pleased with this sale. At the conclusion of the sale, the clearance rate was a very respectable 63% and the hammer was $1,650,000 (ibp). The room was full, felt vibrant and people were clearly enjoying themselves and that’s what a good auction is all about.

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About The Author

Briar Williams is an Art Valuer and Auctioneer who has worked in the primary and secondary markets of New Zealand and Australia for over 15 years. In Melbourne she managed a commercial gallery and was a valuer at Leonard Joel Auctioneers & Valuers before becoming Head of Art there in 2009. Most recently, she was the manager of the art department at Mossgreen-Webb's in Auckland and currently works as an art writer and consultant.

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