Collated over many years by a Sydney collector, this collection of modern and contemporary art for auction at Theodore Bruce features an interesting mix of paintings, objects and photography from Australian and international artists. Post-war and contemporary Spanish artist, Fernando Bellver, is a painter, sculptor, illustrator and founder of Madrid’s Mayor 28 printing workshop. The 16 signed and hand-coloured etchings up for grabs, include the striking Crónica de Una Carrera: Lichtenstein (Lot 6564 ).
The auction includes 160 lots, comprising oil paintings, gouache on paper, limited edition lithographs, photography and sculpture, plus a smaller selection of original 1970’s & 80’s exhibition posters. Australian artists with works on offer include Richard Goodwin and Alun Leach-Jones, while the international contemporary selection includes Jean Charles Blais, Patrick Moya, Henry Kondracki, Fernando Bellver, Jaume Plensa, Skeet McAuley and Louis Jammes.
Jean Charles Blais is a French artist who gained a following in the early 1980’s with paintings incorporating discarded materials such as torn posters and newspapers. His work is held in collections including New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and in March this year his 1984 Untitled achieved a surprising 30,480 CHF (approximately AUD $50,500) at Sotheby’s in its auction of The Marisa Perret-Rezzonico Collection. On offer here is a 1985 limited edition linocut, From Suite Nipon (Lot 6532 ).
Another French artist, Louis Jammes, has two silver gelatine photographs from his 1988 series Bag People (Lots 6586 and 6587). Working across media, Jammes is well recognised for his social commentary photography, with his subjects including migrants and displaced victims of the Sarajevo war. He regularly appears at auction internationally and has a strong buyer base in France.
Post-war and contemporary Spanish artist, Fernando Bellver, is a painter, sculptor, illustrator and founder of Madrid’s Mayor 28 printing workshop. His colourful and playful works blend art historical references and consumer objects. With 16 signed and hand-coloured etchings up for grabs, including the striking Crónica de Una Carrera: Lichtenstein (Lot 6564 ), this auction presents an affordable avenue for new buyers.
The oeuvre of Bellvers’s compatriot, Jaume Plensa, spans theatre design, drawing, etchings and large-scale figurative sculptures that are installed around the globe, including at the Pt. Leo Estate in Merricks, Victoria. Five of Plensa’s deep bite aquatints are included here, including Untitled Nude (Lot 6602 ).
Australian artists to come under the hammer include John Bartlett, Liz Coates, Jeff Gibson and David Peate. Richard Goodwin has a large metal and cloth sculpture, Woman (Lot 6501 ), and the British-born abstractionist Alun Leach-Jones is represented with three works including his pastel, Ruins of the Heart (Lot 6513 ).
