Gordon Walters' Tautahi set a new auction record for the artist at Art+Object's Contemporary Art sale in Auckland, New Zealand last night (April 11).
The New Zealand artist's PVA and acrylic on canvas sold within estimate for $377,648 to head the sale, which featured works from the country's leading names.
 Gordon Walters’ Tautahi is one of several from his famed “koru” series |
In doing so the 1971 painting beat Walters' former record of $360,000 by 4.9%, set by his stylistically similar Painting No 7, which sold in September 2012.
It is also the highest price achieved for a painting in New Zealand in two years, further suggesting that works by Walters (1919-1995) could be viable investment pieces.
There were also strong performances from Colin McCahon's Noughts and Crosses, which achieved $241,719, and an untitled work by Bill Hammond, which made $151,082.
Andrew McLeod's Kowhaiwhai Sunset set a new record for the artist of $37,267.
"This sale was particularly special. It had some amazing works and some great opportunities for collectors," the auction house's Ben Plumbly told the New Zealand Herald newspaper.
"The quality and calibre of works is really unprecedented for an auction in New Zealand.
"It shows that when you have works that are in beautiful condition, with a great history that are among the artists' finest examples, the market will pay accordingly."
We have a strong range of artworks available for sale right now.
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