The final major sale of the year for International Art Centre will feature a selection of Important & Rare Art, to be offered at their Parnell premises on Tuesday 28 November 2023. Featured on the front cover of the auction catalogue is Michael Smither’s iconic landscape, Contoured Hills (Lot 36 ), which demonstrates Smither’s use of simplified landforms and his mastery over composition and colour.
The final major sale of the year for International Art Centre will feature a selection of Important & Rare Art to be offered at their Parnell premises on Tuesday 28 November 2023. Illustrated on the front cover of the auction catalogue is Michael Smither’s iconic landscape, Contoured Hills (Lot 36 ), which demonstrates Smither’s use of simplified landforms and his mastery over composition and colour. Purchased directly from the artist in 1969 the painting is being offered along with Wave Breaking on Railway Wall (Lot 35 ), which forms part of a significant private collection of mid-century artworks included in this sale.
This collection also includes the masterful self-portrait by Jaqueline Fahey, Artist as Warrior, 1957 (Lot 43 ). The painting was featured on the back cover of the artist’s autobiography, Jaqueline Fahey; something for the birds. International Art Centre is delighted to present three works by Jacqueline Fahey in the forthcoming sale, along with hosting the artist in conversation with associate professor Linda Tyler on the 22nd of December.
The enduring relationship between collector and artist is continued in the prodigious Colin McCahon painting, Five (Russell Finnemore & Colin McCahon), 1965 (Lot 47 ). Acquired directly from the artist after a lesson demonstration in 1965 the painting has remained in the collection of New Zealand composer Russell Finnermore and is now being offered for sale for the first time by the estate. The lineage of significant works on offer in this sale is continued with the inclusion of Don Binney’s resplendent composition, Motukorea, Torea-Pango II (Lot 52 ). The painting captures Binney’s lifelong affection for his subject, and a crystallisation of his continued concern for and engagement with New Zealand birds.
The superb collection of New Zealand & International artworks on offer including four works by Charles F Goldie, including In Doubt, Ina Te Papatahi, Orakei Pah, 1913 (Lot 53 ) together with two exquisite drawings of Guide Sophia (lot, 55, 56) and a rare 1900 landscape by the artist, When Evening Shadows Fall 1900 (Lot 54 ). International highlights include Louise Nevelson intricate sculptural work (Lot 70 ) and Dora Maar’s 1944 arresting painting, Still Life of Glass Vases (Lot 69 ). Louise Nevelson was known as a leading sculptor of the twentieth century who pioneered site-specific and installation art with her monochromatic sculptures. Dora Maar became involved with the surrealists from 1933 and was one of the few artists – and even fewer women – to be included in surrealists' exhibitions. Rounding off the international selection on offer is Morons (Lot 60 ) by fabled street artist Banksy.
The sale will be a live in room auction on Tuesday 28 November from 6pm.
