The celebrated Pop artist David Hockney took the art world by storm in the 1960s and 1970s with his sun-drenched series of poolside modernist homes, capturing his newfound Californian lifestyle. He continues to stay relevant today by adapting to new technological advancements, from Polaroid cameras to iPads. His works regularly break auction records, most recently… Read more »
Posts By: Cowley Abbott
Celebrating Japanese Pop & Contemporary Art in our June Online Auction
In the past few decades, Japanese artists have taken the contemporary art world by storm, presenting bold and inventive works that embody Japan’s rich cultural history. They challenge Western traditions and push the boundaries of contemporary art, like Yayoi Kusama and Yoshitomo Nara, whose revolutionary works have attracted international acclaim and commercial success. Born in… Read more »
Post-war American Art Movements in Cowley Abbott’s Modern & Contemporary Auction
In the years following the end of World War II, several major art movements emerged in the United States. Abstract Expressionism began in the 1940s and was the first specifically American movement to achieve international influence and put New York at the centre of the Western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris. Developing… Read more »
In the Presence of Royalty
As the head of the International Art department, I first saw the set of four Queen Elizabeth II’s by Andy Warhol unwrapped and hung side by side in Montreal as we set up for our preview in April. They commanded the room. They were all framed similarly, each featuring the same image of Queen Elizabeth… Read more »
Over $16 Million Dollars of Art Sold at Cowley Abbott’s Spring Live Auction
Record Breaking Auction of Rare Canadian Art Masterpieces
Cowley Abbott’s live auction on June 8th marked the second of three landmark live auctions dedicated to a prestigious private collection of Canadian art. A selection of exceptional historical artworks offered in the evening auction saw a bidding frenzy, with most artworks in the sale exceeding – and often doubling, tripling or more – presale… Read more »
Two-Session Spring Live Auction Tonight!!!
Tonight! It is finally time for our two-session Live Auction of Important Canadian and International Art! The Cowley Abbott team could not be more excited to present these artworks for sale this evening @globeandmailcentre. It has been a privilege to handle these works of art and share them with collectors, clients and art lovers. Join… Read more »
Rita Letendre “Rencontre enflammée” – Spring Live Auction of Important Canadian & International Art (June 8th)
Beginning as an Automatiste painter in the 1950s, Rita Letendre was influenced by Paul-Émile Borduas’ revolutionary gestural abstract paintings of the period. Although the Automatistes were instrumental in the evolution of her style, Letendre developed a singular vision in her body of work that resulted in a unique style that pushed boundaries of colour, light… Read more »
Rob Cowley Visits CP24 Breakfast to Discuss the Cowley Abbott Spring Live Auction
Rob Cowley chats with CP24 Breakfast’s Nick Dixon and Jennifer Hsiung ahead of the June 8th Cowley Abbott Spring Live Auction. They discuss masterpiece work by Lawren Harris, Emily Carr, Andy Warhol, Tom Thomson and David Bowie, each on offer during the upcoming sale.
Cornelius Krieghoff “The Royal Mail Crossing the St. Lawrence” – Spring Live Auction of An Important Private Collection of Canadian Art (June 8th)
Cornelius Krieghoff moved to Quebec City in 1853, encountering a vibrant and growing city. As Dennis Reid remarked: “Almost as large as Montreal at a population of some 58,000, close to 40 per cent anglophone (as opposed to the then slightly more than 50 percent anglophone component of the Montreal population) it was the military… Read more »
