DENVER, CO.- Hindman’s Western Paintings and Sculpture auction was held yesterday, October 29, and posted outstanding results. The auction exceeded its presale estimate and set numerous new global auction records. The sale sold 93% of the lots offered and closed out the day at $1.6M. The Western & Wildlife Art category has seen a considerable increase in demand as of late, with Hindman’s Western Paintings and Sculpture auctions consistently surpassing expectations.
“The works offered in yesterday’s sale were truly exceptional and we are delighted with the results. The Western art market continues to flourish as more and more collectors turn their attention and resources to this category. We are so pleased to be able to continually offer such outstanding material and we look forward to our upcoming Western Paintings & Sculpture auction in May,” said Kate Hlavin, Director and Specialist of Western & Wildlife Art.
Among the world auction records set in yesterday’s sale were paintings by Fritz Scholder, Billy Schenck, Howard Post, Earl Biss, David Bradley, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, William Berra and Beatrice Mandelman. The top lot of the sale, Fritz Scholder’s oil on canvas, Indian Messiah, from 1975, sold for a total of $192,000 against its presale estimate of $20,000-30,000. Multiple telephone and online bidders pushed the final result to almost ten times the estimate. Another auction record was set by Scholder’s contemporary and friend, Earl Biss. Biss’s 1986 oil on canvas, Ritual Dance of the Moon Hunters, realized $75,000 against a presale estimate of $15,000-25,000. Scholder and Biss are most famous for their Native American imagery and the market for these artists has continued to see robust demand and increasingly exciting results. Additionally, Billy Schenck’s, Days of August, from 1986 set an auction record for the artist, selling for $40,000. Estimated at $8,000-12,000, this expansive oil on canvas, is the embodiment of the artist’s cinematic style, using vivid bold colors to illustrate Western scenery in high contrast.
The Western Paintings and Sculpture auction was held on October 29 in Hindman’s Denver saleroom with all bidders participating remotely. The sale saw tremendous interest from bidders across the globe bidding by absentee, telephone and four online bidding platforms.
