• Introducing the Cowley Abbott Team: Katherine Meredith, Canadian Art Specialist & Montreal Representative

    Katherine is our Montreal Representative with nine years of experience in the Canadian auction industry. Together with her academic background in art history, she has developed a specialty in the Canadian post-war abstract art movements. She is passionate about writing – on topics of fine art, art collecting, and the auction world.

    Katherine, you have been a member of the Cowley Abbott team since 2016 and your role has greatly evolved over the last few years. You now reside in Montreal, your hometown, and act as our Montreal representative – a very exciting development for the firm as we begin to represent the country from coast to coast! Can you share how your role at the auction house has advanced and what services you now provide for the province of Quebec?

    I started working at the Cowley Abbott Toronto gallery in 2016 in a Client Services position, and then became a Canadian Art Specialist in 2018. In 2020, during my maternity leave, I moved to Montreal and returned to Cowley Abbott as the Montreal Representative. My current role involves many of the same aspects as when I lived in Toronto, such as online valuation inquiries and writing for the auction catalogues, but I am also excited to now offer a face-to-face and bilingual service in Montreal and its surrounding areas. I meet with clients in person to view and pick up artworks, and I organize regular shipments to Toronto for a hassle-free consignment process. I have to say though, I do miss Toronto and seeing the Cowley Abbott team in person on a regular basis, and I am really looking forward to more trips back to the city in this upcoming year!

    As a lover of art, you have always promoted collecting art at auction and we know that you wish to encourage younger audiences to become active in the auction world. Can you tell us a little bit about why this topic interests you? You have started a new blog on art collecting at CowleyAbbott.ca. We can’t wait to read the next instalment!

    I am an art historian and art lover, though I feel very strongly that art can be appreciated at many levels and price ranges. Of course, I swoon over the enormous Riopelle and Borduas paintings at museums, but I also get excited about a $300 etching that can bring colour or charm or mood to your own walls at home. There has been a recent resurgence of interest among young people in home decor that is unique, vintage and sustainable, rather than what you’d find at a big box store. I think this trend is also carrying over into art collecting, and online auctions are the perfect fit for this audience, being a platform for finding original and quality artworks at a wide price range. My blog aims to dispel some misconceptions about the auction world and make it approachable to new collectors. So stay tuned! 

  • Introducing the Cowley Abbott Team: Perry Tung, Senior Canadian and International Art Specialist 

    Perry pictured here with resident evaluator Katherine Gray and host Nick Uhas on the set of the Netflix show Blown Away, Season One. Photo courtesy of Marble Media.

    Cowley Abbott has rapidly grown to be a leader in the competitive Canadian auction industry since its foundation. Our expansion into the international art market with a dedicated department and the offer of a rare painting by the enigmatic superstar David Bowie in our first International Art Auction in June 2021 led to notable exposure for both the artwork and the firm, selling for $108,120 (a new global auction record). We invite you to become acquainted with our specialists in our new blog series and learn more about Cowley Abbott’s pivotal role in the auction industry.

    Perry Tung, Senior Canadian and International Art Specialist

    Perry is a fine art specialist and auctioneer with over 20 years of experience in both the primary and secondary art markets, with knowledge of both Canadian and International Art. Perry joined Cowley Abbott in December of 2020 and began building the International Art Department, a very exciting venture for the auction house. Did you know that Perry has volunteered his time for countless charity auctions over the years and also was a guest judge on a hit tv television show?

    Perry, you have been a regular commentator and lecturer on Canadian art and the auction market in Canada during your years in the industry. As a guest judge on an episode of the acclaimed Netflix show, Blown Away, you had the opportunity to work directly with artists and witness glassblowers creating artworks in real time. Tell us more about this experience and how you came to be involved. Any memorable moments from Pop Art Blowup?

    One of the show’s creators saw a tv interview I had done and contacted me. We met, they pitched the show and a couple of months later we were filming the episode. The most memorable thing was learning about glass blowing, the terminology and techniques. It was amazing to be in the hotshop with these talented artists and watch them create something inspired by Pop Art.

    Also, readers should note that “Blown Away” is still available to watch on Netflix! Tune in and watch Perry evaluate the talented contestants!

    Each year you volunteer your time as an auctioneer for various charity events across Toronto, including Art with Heart’s Contemporary Fine Art Auction benefiting Casey House and Snap! A Contemporary Canadian Photography Auction for the Aids Committee of Toronto. These are fantastic causes! How long have you been volunteering as an auctioneer for these charity auctions? When do Art with Heart and Snap! take place this year? We are excited!

    I’ve been involved with Art with Heart for eighteen years and with Snap! for about fifteen years. This year is the Twentieth Anniversary of Snap! and we are excited to host the live broadcast from Cowley Abbot on March 24th. Art with Heart will be in October this year and we are delighted to host the previews again at our galleries.

    Perry Tung can be reached directly by e-mail at perry@cowleyabbott.ca. Stay tuned for the next installment of “Introducing the Cowley Abbott Team” in a week!

  • Art Collecting Tips with Katherine

    Starting an Art Collection & Why You Should Look to Auctions

    Lot 14: Peter Deutsch, High Fidelity
    vinyl copolymer on canvas
    estimate $1,000-2,000

    Collecting art can be fulfilling and add personality to your home. As a thirty-something-year-old art specialist, I have quite a few friends and family members buying their first homes and asking me where they can buy art to put on their walls. For many reasons (admittedly including the fact that I work at an auction house), I recommend online auctions as a way to start and build an art collection. Cowley Abbott’s January online auctions offer great examples of accessible art in a range of styles, subjects, and media. I am happy to share some general art collecting advice and my affordable art picks from the current sale.

    Lot 39: Robert Montgomery
    The People you Meet Become Ghosts Inside of You and Like This You Keep Them Alive
    colour photograph
    estimate $1,200-1,500

    Browse Indefinitely

    It is important to spend time surrounded by art in order to create a context for yourself. Find ways to look at art on a regular basis, through museum and gallery visits, Instagram accounts, the Google Arts & Culture app, and scrolling through online auction listings. Every time you see a work of art, let yourself react to it. Ask, “do I like this? Why or why not?” These experiences will help you develop your personal taste.

    Lot 73: Rita Letendre, Northern Legend
    serigraph
    estimate $300-500

    Learn (some of) the Lingo

    Art comes in many forms and materials, and it is worth learning their differences, for the purposes of both aesthetics and value. The general categories include painting, drawing, prints (of which there are many types – etchings, silkscreens, lithographs, etc), photography, sculpture and mixed media. An oil painting is a one-of-a-kind work of art, but also more expensive due to its rarity. Prints, which are duplicate images from a limited edition, are often more readily available and affordable than original paintings. For example, lot 73 is Northern Legend, a 1967 print by Rita Letendre. The estimate is $300-500, far below the typical prices in the tens of thousands for her oil paintings.

    Lot 110: Ted Harrison, Ice Moon, Hockey Game
    two serigraphs
    estimate $600-800

    Be Patient and Enjoy the Journey

    Please take your time in this process. When someone asks me for advice on how to find a work of art for their home, I often have to tell them that they should not expect to find something in a day or even a week. Don’t just buy something quickly to fill a blank wall. That being said, if a particular work really grabs you for whatever reason, then go for it! It is better to buy something you love even if you have no idea where it will find a place in your home. Art collecting is a lifelong journey that is never complete – it is always evolving and it reflects how your personality and tastes have changed. Looking at every piece in your collection is like an old journal or photo album–every piece you collect along the way will remind you of a particular moment in your life.

    Lot 111: Raphael Montpetit, Dégel
    oil on board
    estimate $500-700

  • Trucs et astuces pour la collection d’art

    Comment commencer une collection d’art & pourquoi vous devriez vous tourner vers les enchères

    Lot 14: Peter Deutsch, High Fidelity
    copolymère de vinyl sur toile
    estimation  1 000 – 2 000 $

    La collection d’œuvres d’art peut être épanouissante et ajouter de la personnalité à votre maison. En tant que spécialiste de l’art dans la trentaine, j’ai pas mal d’amis et de membres de ma famille qui achètent leur première maison et me demandent où ils peuvent acheter de l’art pour mettre sur leurs murs. Pour de nombreuses raisons (y compris le fait que je travaille dans une maison de vente aux enchères), je recommande les ventes aux enchères en ligne comme moyen de démarrer et de constituer une collection d’art. Les ventes en ligne de Cowley Abbott de janvier offrent d’excellents exemples d’art accessible dans une gamme de styles, de sujets et de médias. Je suis heureuse de partager quelques conseils généraux sur la collection d’art ainsi que mes choix d’art abordables de la présente vente.

    Lot 39: Robert Montgomery,
    The People you Meet Become Ghosts Inside of You and Like This You Keep Them Alive
    photographie en couleurs
    estimation 1 200 – 1 500 $

    Parcourez indéfiniment

    Il est important de passer du temps entouré d’art afin de se créer un contexte.Trouvez des façons de voir de l’art régulièrement, par le biais de visites de musées et de galeries, de comptes Instagram, de l’application Google Arts & Culture et en parcourant les listes d’enchères en ligne. ​​À chaque fois que vous voyez une œuvre d’art, laissez-vous réagir. Demandez, “est-ce que j’aime ça? Pourquoi ou pourquoi pas?” Ces expériences vous aideront à développer votre goût personnel.
    Lot 73: Rita Letendre, Northern Legend
    sérigraphie
    estimation 300 – 500 $

    Apprenez le jargon

    L’art se présente sous de nombreuses formes et matériaux, et il vaut la peine d’apprendre leurs différences, à des fins esthétiques et de valeur. Les catégories générales comprennent la peinture, le dessin, les gravures (dont il existe de nombreux types – eaux-fortes, sérigraphies, lithographies, etc.), la photographie, la sculpture et les techniques mixtes. Une peinture à l’huile est une œuvre d’art unique, mais elle est aussi plus chère en raison de sa rareté. Les tirages, qui sont des images en double d’une édition limitée, sont souvent plus facilement disponibles et abordables que les peintures originales. Par exemple, le lot 73 est Northern Legend, une sérigraphie de 1967 de Rita Letendre. L’estimation est de 300 à 500 $, bien inférieure aux prix typiques de plusieurs dizaines de milliers de ses peintures à l’huile.
    Lot 110: Ted Harrison, Ice Moon, Hockey Game
    lot de deux sérigraphies
    estimation 600 – 800 $

    Soyez patient et profitez du voyage

    Veuillez prendre votre temps dans ce processus. Quand quelqu’un me demande des conseils pour trouver une œuvre d’art pour sa maison, je dois souvent lui dire qu’il ne faut pas s’attendre à trouver quelque chose en un jour ou même une semaine. Ne vous contentez pas d’acheter quelque chose rapidement pour remplir un mur vide. Cela étant dit, si un article en particulier vous attrape vraiment pour une raison quelconque, alors allez-y ! Il est préférable d’acheter quelque chose que vous aimez même si vous ne savez pas où il trouvera sa place dans votre maison. Collectionner des œuvres d’art est un processus qui dure toute la vie et qui n’est jamais complet – il évolue constamment et reflète l’évolution de votre personnalité et vos goûts. Regarder chaque pièce de votre collection est comme un vieux journal ou un album photo – chaque article que vous collectionnez en cours de route vous rappellera un moment particulier de votre vie.

    Lot 111: Raphael Montpetit, Dégel
    huile sur bois
    estimation 500 – 700 $

  • Introducing the Cowley Abbott Team: Katlin Rogers, Canadian Art Specialist

    Cowley Abbott bridges the gap between traditional art auction services and the online fine art marketplace. Our experienced specialists strive to form relationships with clients built on professionalism, transparency and trust. We believe that art collecting should be approachable, educational and rewarding for both new and seasoned collectors. We invite you to become acquainted with our specialists in our new blog series and learn more about Cowley Abbott’s prominent place in the Canadian art industry.

    Katlin Rogers, Canadian Art Specialist

    Did you know Canadian Art Specialist, Katlin Rogers is also a qualified personal property appraiser? Specializing in Historical and Post War Canadian Art, Katlin has been a Member of the International Society of Appraisers since 2018. Receiving Chapter Impact Awards from the Canadian Chapter of ISA and practicing hundreds of hours of appraisal work, Katlin can assist you with your formal appraisal needs! 

    As a member of the International Society of Appraisers, Katlin, you are part of a leading professional personal property appraisal association, which allows you to perform a myriad of fine art appraisals as a specialist at Cowley Abbott. Can you tell us more about the appraisal services offered at the firm and your role as an ISA qualified appraiser? 

    Many of our clients have practical issues of insurance and estate concerns when it comes to their art collection. Receiving top training with the International Society of Appraisers sharpened my skill set to provide our clients with bespoke appraisal services. I have been fortunate to be able to work with clients who have built exceptional collections of blue chip Canadian art, including works by Jack Bush, Jean McEwen, Jean Paul Riopelle, David Milne, A.Y. Jackson, Maud Lewis and William Kurelek, among many others. Many of these artworks have not been traded on the open market and it is a pleasure to be able to handle these collections, connect with clients and discuss current market conditions. 

    The Sotheby’s Institute of Art London in the United Kingdom is where you received your Master’s in Art Business. Can you tell us about what your studies were focused on and how that experience informed your decision to work in the auction industry?

    Studying in a global art center was certainly an important experience. The Sotheby’s program in London was open to a global view, however, I tailored my studies towards the Canadian marketplace, taking a deep dive into the public and private sectors of our regional art market. For my Master’s Thesis, I took a very focused look on how the world perceives regional markets and examined the Canadian art market from qualitative and quantitative perspectives. Researching the auction market between 1967- 2015 provided invaluable insight into previous and current trends in the market and auction business strategies. This research allowed me to hit the ground running when I returned to Canada and began working in the auction industry. Ever since it has been a pleasure linking undergraduate art history and theory studies, and post-grad art business studies, with real world experience handling incredible artworks.

    Katlin Rogers can be reached directly by e-mail at katlin@cowleyabbott.ca. Stay tuned for the next installment of “Introducing the Cowley Abbott Team” in a week!