Category: Auctions

  • Celebrating Women Artists and Women in the Art World

    Marcelle Ferron, Sans titre, 1960, (Price realized: $1,260,000)

    by Katherine Meredith, Art Specialist

    Cowley Abbott is proud to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 8th. We honour and recognize women’s participation in many aspects of the art world: as artists, collectors, curators, philanthropists, art patrons, teachers, and more. 

    First of all, I would like to acknowledge the women who make up the majority of the fantastic team at Cowley Abbott, starting with Partner and Vice President Lydia Abbott, and my colleagues Anna Holmes, Catherine Lacroix, Nicole Plaskett, Sydney Rodrigues and Julia De Kwant. Our unique combination of expertise, professionalism, creativity and organization make the auction house excel in the industry. Lydia and Anna have also formed a women’s group of clients, professionals and colleagues in the art world, who meet regularly for exhibition tours. Last spring, Lydia and Anna hosted a panel at Cowley Abbott on the topic of women in the Canadian art industry. I look forward to being a part of this initiative as it grows further, and please contact us if you wish to be a part of this group!

    I recently read a fascinating article in The New York Times that resonated with me in many ways. Entitled “Gathering Force in the Art Market: Female Collectors”, the article states that with women controlling an increasing share of global wealth, they are spending more money on art than men are. The author also notes that women are particularly thoughtful when collecting art, focusing on nurturing artists careers, or highlighting historically underrepresented artists. I have noticed firsthand that the next generation of collectors — particularly millennials, and particularly women — are driven less by speculation or “trophy names” and more by shared values, substance, and story. In Canada, this has translated into strong engagement with Indigenous and women artists who were long overlooked by the market.

    The New York Times article also mentions how there is a growing presence of women on museum boards and acquisition committees, and thus are influencing exhibitions and collecting practices. Museums in Canada and abroad are showing more exhibitions devoted to women artists than they did over the last few decades. The recent exhibition Helen McNicoll: An Impressionist Journey, was held at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec and the Art Gallery of Hamilton, and soon will be presented at the National Gallery of Canada. Cowley Abbott was a proud sponsor of the Hamilton exhibition and we were thrilled to see The Chintz Sofa again – one of the highlights of our December 2023 auction of An Important Private Collection. The show brought together dozens of works in what was described as the first major retrospective of McNicoll’s work in about a century.

    Similarly, Joyce Wieland: Heart On, organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Art Gallery of Ontario, was the first full retrospective devoted to Wieland in nearly forty years. The exhibition assembled more than 100 works across media—painting, collage, textiles, prints, and experimental films—to show the breadth of her practice and position her as a major figure in twentieth-century art and film. Curators emphasized themes that feel particularly resonant today: feminism, national identity, social justice, and environmental awareness. 

    For the past four years, Cowley Abbott has been organizing online auctions dedicated to women artists every March, due to high demand and in honour of Women’s History Month. These sales have proven to be very popular with collectors. This year, I feel we have a particularly strong selection of historical, post-war and contemporary artists in the auction, which is entitled “Celebrating Women Artists” and runs from March 10th to 24th, 2026.

    A highlight of the auction is a beautiful mother and child portrait by Canadian painter Mary Alexandra Bell Eastlake (1864-1951). Although not exclusively a figure painter, the artist was known for her depictions of women and children in domestic outdoor settings, which was deemed an acceptable subject for female painters of the time. Eastlake’s paintings have drawn very strong interest in recent years, with When Spring Rides Through the Woods selling for $96,000 in this past November’s live auction, and In The Orchard setting the auction record for Eastlake in 2023, achieving a price of $168,000.

    Two post-war highlights in the auction are abstract paintings by Quebec artists Marcella Maltais (1933-2018), and Lise Gervais (1933-1998). Both women emerged in the 1950s–60s Quebec art scene, following the influence of Paul-Émile Borduas and the Automatistes while developing their own personal forms of lyrical abstraction.

    We are excited to have a charming embroidered crest by Joyce Wieland in the auction, entitled The White Snow Goose of Canada. It was produced in 1971 while the artist was experimenting with a wide range of materials and exploring ideas of tactility in art. Her work was deeply political, addressing nationalism, feminism, and ecology. This White Snow Goose of Canada crest brings these themes together, reflecting the artist’s interest in their interconnectedness.

    Another highlight of “Celebrating Women Artists” that I would like to draw attention to is a collection of works by Anne Kahane (1924-2023), an Austrian-born Montreal sculptor known for her expressive figurative sculptures exploring themes of human suffering, resilience, and social justice. She worked during a period when women sculptors were relatively rare, and created numerous public monuments across Canada. Kahane is now recognized as an important figure in Canadian sculpture, yet she is still not widely known to the public. However, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is organizing an exhibition on her work, opening in November 2026. Cowley Abbott is excited to have four lots in our auction from the estate of Anne Kahane, including brass sculptures and colourful woodblock prints.

    I invite you to browse the auction for more compelling works by Canadian women artists. It is inspiring to see the growing recognition of these artists and the many women helping to shape the future of the art world in Canada and worldwide.

  • What’s on in January

    January at Cowley Abbott: Online Auctions & A New Bidding Experience, DesignTO and Art Collecting Conversations

    January Online Auctions
    Cowley Abbott is pleased to present a captivating variety of works offered over six online sessions this month. Our January Online Auction features an early figurative painting by Jack Bush, a selection of works by Canadian pop artist Charles Pachter, and a nineteenth-century vista by Marc-Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté. Bidding will conclude on Tuesday, January 27th.

    We are also excited to be participating in DesignTO this year as an Independent Project. To mark the occasion, we will be hosting a breakfast preview and gallery tour on Saturday, January 24th, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. All are welcome! We look forward to connecting with members of the design community and with anyone who enjoys living with original art. Please RSVP to [email protected]

    New Online Bidding Experience
    We are pleased to introduce an improved online bidding experience. When you create a profile on our website, your Auction Mobility bidding account is created at the same time, using the same login and password for both platforms. If you already have an Auction Mobility account from our live auctions, it will automatically link to your new Cowley Abbott profile, making it easier than ever to participate in our sales. As always, our team is available to assist throughout the auction period; and please don’t hesitate to give us a call for support with the new bidding platform.

    Conversations on Art Collecting
    Art Specialist Katherine Meredith continues her ongoing dialogue with voices from the Canadian art and design world, exploring the many ways people engage with and collect art today. United by a shared goal of making the art world more approachable and accessible, she recently sat down with art advisor Megan Paterson of Aurelia Fine Art. Below are select excerpts from their conversation.

    Why do you think original art should be an important part of everyone’s home and life?

    Art connects us and consoles us in ways that there aren’t words for. It inspires us and it validates our identities and struggles that are hard to share with each other. I might not be able to tell anyone that I’m sometimes horrified by existence but there are numerous artworks I can turn to that will assure me I’m not alone.

    What advice do you give to people who are new to art collecting?

    It’s all about what speaks to you and there really aren’t any wrong choices. The only place you can go wrong is not being properly educated about your choices so it’s essential you work with trustworthy professionals so you know exactly what you’re buying.

    What are some challenges you find with your role as an art advisor? 

    The biggest challenge is trying to explain to people what an art advisor does (lol) but beyond that, challenges are ultimately my opportunities. A lot of people want me to talk about the challenge of imposing my taste on my clients but I don’t see that as my job. My job is to encourage them to trust their own taste, help clear that path for them and make sure they’re fully and properly educated and supported on each decision. 

    If you could choose a work of art from Canadian art history, what artwork would you choose and why?

    My favourite painting to visit is the big Kurelek in the AGO of the scraggly solitary tree looking down at all the kids playing, but I’d also take pretty much any painting by Alex Colville or Marion Nicoll. I know you said one but that’s an impossible request of any art person!

    Which artworks from our January online auction do you have your eye on, and why do they speak to you?

    Both Marcel Dzamas. I was an early 2000s indie music girl and fell in love with his artwork on the Weakerthans and Beck album covers. I also love words and therefore text-based art so “Reason to Believe” really appeals and it’s probably not related but reminds me of the Rod Stewart song, which I adore. 

    The Brian Burke. I’d actually never heard of this artist before but love how dark and mysterious it is and how it sucks me right in just trying to figure out what the hell the narrative is there.

    Yuri Dojc, “Sweet Stillness”. I’d also never heard of this artist before but I just simply like the image and don’t really have an explanation why beyond that!

  • Collecting Guide: Prints by International Artists

    For new collectors, prints can offer an accessible entry point to begin growing your art collection, offering works at more affordable prices.

    Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger (F&S II.141). Colour screenprint on Arches aquarelle (rough) paper. Signed by the artist, numbered 13/250 and signed by Mick Jagger in the lower margin. Printed by Alexander Heinrici, New York. Published by Seabird Editions, London, England. Sold for $276,000

    1. What is a print?

    Prints are original artworks produced in limited numbers. They are often created under the artist’s supervision and in an edition. Prints and printmaking are broad terms used to describe:

    • Aquatint: An intaglio printmaking technique that creates tonal areas.
    • Drypoint: An intaglio printmaking technique that creates sharp lines with fuzzy edges.
    • Engraving: Incisions are made into a metal plate which retain the ink and form the printed image.
    • Etching: A printmaking technique using chemical action to produce incised lines in a metal printing plate, which holds the applied ink and forms the image.
    • Lithography: On a flat stone or metal plate, an image is created using a greasy substance that allows the ink to stick, while the non-image areas are treated to repel ink.
    • Mezzotint: An intaglio printmaking technique that creates soft gradations of tone.
    • Monoprint: A form of printmaking where the image can only be made once, making the technique closer to a drawing or painting. The term monoprint and monotype are used interchangeably.
    • Screenprint: A variety of stencil printing, using a screen made from fabric (silk or synthetic) stretched tightly over a frame. Also known as silkscreen and serigraphy.
    • Woodcut: A method of relief printing using a block of wood cut along the grain. The raised areas of the image are inked and printed, while the areas that have been cut away remain blank.
    Pablo Picasso, Sculpteur et deux têtes sculptées from the Vollard Suite (Bloch 157; Geiser 310 Bd). Etching signed lower margin. Sold for $9,600

    2. What are edition sizes and proofs?

    A print is a unique work produced in a limited edition, meaning only a specific number of impressions are made, and are usually signed by the artist. Each print is assigned an edition number, typically written as a fraction in the lower margin (for example: 25/50). The number on the left represents the individual print’s number, while the number on the right indicates the total size of the edition.

    The number of prints in an edition is key and limited edition prints are generally considered to be more valuable. The following abbreviations usually appear on works outside the numbered edition, such as:

    • A.P.: Artist’s Proof (or E.A. for épreuve d’artiste). Identical to the numbered edition and usually kept by the artist as a record of the print’s evolution.
    • P.P.: Printer’s Proof. Identical to the numbered edition and is an example for the printer or publisher the artist was collaborating with.
    • T.P.: Trial Proof. Used by artists and printers to see how the work is progressing before the official print run. 
    • E.P.: Experimental Proof. An experimental proof used by an artist as part of the creation process to be made into an edition.
    • C.P.: Color Proof. Used to test which colours best represent the artist’s intention.
    • H.C.: Hors Commerce, which translates to “not for sale”. These proofs were often intended for promotional use for galleries and dealers and are identical to the final edition.
    • B.A.T.: Bon à tirer, a French phrase meaning “good to pull”. It is the final proof reviewed by the artist before the edition is printed. There is generally only one B.A.T. and the printer relies on it so that the final edition is as the artist intended.
    Marc Chagall, L’Opéra (M. 715). Colour lithograph. Signed and inscribed “Épreuve d’artiste” in the lower margin. Sold for $31,200

    3. What are the different types of paper used in prints?

    In our catalogue description, specialists will indicate what type of paper a print is on and will mention if any watermarks are visible. Here are some examples:

    • Arches
    • BFK Rives
    • Hahnemühle
    • Japan nacre
    • Wove
    Roy Lichtenstein, This Must Be the Place (Corlett III.20), 1965. Colour offset lithograph on wove paper printed signature, dated 1965 (as issued) and signed in the lower margin; titled and dated on a gallery label on the backing on the reverse. From an unknown edition size. Published by Leo Castelli Gallery, New York. Sold for $22,800

    The selection of paper is an important part of the printmaking process, which can influence the appearance of the printed image. For example, Roy Lichtenstein was known for using readily available paper, such as thin poster paper, and Andy Warhol similarly liked using inexpensive paper for his Soup Cans during the 1960s to emphasize that they were meant for everyone.

    4. Why are catalogue raisonnés important?

    A catalogue raisonné is a published collection of an artist’s complete works, listing each work with its title, date, and a description of its physical properties, such as medium, size and signature. The various editions are listed, along with the names of the printer and publisher.

    Consulting the catalogue raisonné of an artist is, therefore, a necessary step for any serious collector to confirm if a print is a genuine work or not.

    Andy Warhol, Turtle (F&S II.360A), 1985 colour screenprint on Lenox Museum Board. Signed and numbered 248/250 lower right; titled and numbered on a label on the reverse. Printed by Rupert Jasen Smith, New York; published by CBS, Inc., Los Angeles, California. Sold for $114,000


    5. What are common condition issues to look out for?

    Beyond the authenticity of a print, a collector should always consider its condition before making a purchase as it will impact its value. The most common imperfections can include the following:

    • Creasing: An unintentional and permanent ridge or fold in the sheet of paper.
    • Fading: Loss of brightness or brilliance of colour in the image.
    • Foxing: Reddish-brown spots that appear on the paper due to water exposure or high levels of humidity.
    • Tearing: Damage to the paper where it has pulled apart, leaving ragged or irregular edges.
    • Trimming: An alteration of the size of a sheet, whether that be due to a condition issue or for framing. 
    • Yellowing: Alteration of a print that takes on a yellowish tint.

  • Museum-Quality Canvas by Quebec Master Jean Paul Lemieux Debuts at Cowley Abbott Fall Auction

    Jean Paul Lemieux, Basse messe, dimanche

    Basse messe, dimanche by Quebec Master, Lemieux is among historical and post-war auction highlights from Consignor Canadian Fine Art, now Cowley Abbott

    October 23, 2019 (Toronto, ON) – An exceptional opportunity to own a major canvas by one of Canada’s most celebrated painters is up for auction from Cowley Abbott (formerly Consignor Canadian Fine Art) as part of its semi-annual Fall Live Auction of Important Canadian Art, taking place Tuesday, November 19 at Toronto’s Gardiner Museum. Presenting key work by Canada’s preeminent historical and post-war artists, many of which will be going under the hammer for the first time, the newly minted Cowley Abbott will also be celebrating the rebrand of the auction house under the monikers of its principals, Canadian auction industry veterans Rob Cowley and Lydia Abbott.

    Jean Paul Lemieux’s Basse messe, dimanche (Low Mass, Sunday), painted in the classic style for which the artist is most celebrated, will make its auction debut with an estimate of $300,000 – $500,000. Basse messe, dimanche is a stunning canvas that depicts a group of parishioners exiting a church in the early morning, exposed to the winter cold under the harsh light of a white moon. Measuring nearly eight feet wide, the painting is one of the largest of the period by a key figure in Canadian modernity. Imbued with themes of Nordic sensibility and melancholy, Lemieux drew inspiration from memories of a bygone era in which Quebec traditions, customs, and popular religious beliefs gave life and structure to the artist’s community.

    “It is our privilege to introduce Basse messe, dimanche to the public for the first time at auction,” said Rob Cowley, President, Cowley Abbott. “This commanding, stunning canvas provides Jean Paul Lemieux’s classic view of Quebec and Canadian culture, effectively capturing themes of community, faith and isolation across an expansive winter landscape. The rich colour and larger-than-life characters that occupy the spectacular composition have stopped collectors in their tracks during early previews of this important painting by one of our country’s most renowned painters.”

    The fall auction also provides a chance to own a piece of Canadian history, with a rare work on offer by Canadian scientist, physician, painter and Nobel Prize recipient Sir Frederick Banting. European Landscape (1925) was painted during his trip to Europe where he accepted the prestigious Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his involvement in the discovery of insulin; and the work provides a rare glimpse from Banting at the point of receiving the highest honour in his field. As the then youngest laureate and first Canadian to receive the prestigious prize, Banting was also named Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year” on the cover of its August 1923 issue, making him a renowned figure of scientific progress around the world. The painting has a distinguished provenance that includes being privately owned by members of the Banting family, and is accompanied by a letter from Banting’s son detailing the piece’s history and the trip during which the painting was created. European Landscape has a pre-auction estimate of $20,000 – $30,000, which Cowley Abbott anticipates could exceed expectations.

    Multiple key works by William Kurelek will be featured in Cowley Abbott’s fall live auction including Pioneer Homestead on a Winter’s Evening (1971). Housed in a custom frame made by Kurelek, the painting depicts a Ukrainian woman drawing water from a well on the Canadian prairie in winter, and is an exemplary showcase of the artist’s characteristic themes and subject matter related to immigration, farming on the Prairies, Ukrainian heritage, and the harsh beauty of the Western Canadian landscape. The painting comes from the private collection of a Ukrainian-Canadian family in Toronto with an auction estimate of $50,000 – $70,000.

    From the same collection comes Brothers, a larger winter farming painting by William Kurelek that has an auction estimate of $100,000 – $150,000. Commissioned by the family following their purchase of Pioneer Homestead on a Winter’s Evening, the composition presents two brothers walking together on a vast Prairie landscape, distantly following their father upon a horse-drawn sleigh.

    “Our Fall Auction of Important Canadian Art features striking and rare examples by our country’s illustrious painters, sculptors and print-makers. Entrusted to our firm from Canadian and International private and corporate collections, it is a pleasure for our team to present these fantastic works to the collecting public, in many cases for the first time.” – Lydia Abbott, Vice-President, Cowley Abbott

    Other notable artworks featured in Cowley Abbott’s Fall Live Auction include:

    • A 1936 painting by Emily Carr depicting the Strait of Juan de Fuca, is a richly coloured work alive with the movement of the ruggedly beautiful British Columbia landscape. The painting comes from a United States private collection, available at auction for the first time with an estimate of $125,000 – $175,000
    • Two rare canvasses by 19th century master Cornelius Krieghoff, bothfrom a private collection: Indian Encampment by a River Autumn (1849) is being offered with a pre-sale estimate of $60,000 -$80,000 and Hudson Bay Trader (1845-47) at $40,000 – $60,000
    • La Mare, Baie St. Paul, a 1920 oil on panel by Quebec painter Clarence Gagnon. This panel, a sketch for The Pond in October housed in the National Gallery of Canada’s permanent collection, is being offered with an estimate of $15,000 – $20,000
    • A trailblazer for women in the arts in Canada, Molly Lamb Bobak’s Highland Games, Fredericton is expected to excite collectors with its colourful and heavily populated setting during the city’s Highland Games Festival. This large 40” x 48” canvas is likely to exceed its pre-sale estimate of $30,000 – $50,000
    • One of Canada’s earliest and most renowned champions of abstraction, Bertram Brooker’s Autumn Bouquet makes its first appearance at auction, subject to a $20,000-30,000 estimate. Cowley Abbott set an auction record for a work by Brooker in the fall of 2018, Delta Ice House more than tripling its opening bid to fetch $82,600

    Historical offerings in the auction also include the workof the Group of Seven, Sybil Andrews, J.W. Beatty, André Biéler, J.W. Morrice, P.C. Sheppard, M.A. Suzor-Coté, Robert Pilot and Frederick Verner.

    Post-War Contemporary and Abstraction artists are also strongly represented in the sale with works by David Blackwood, Jack Bush, Greg Curnoe, Sorel Etrog, Paterson Ewen, Joe Fafard, Betty Goodwin, Ted Harrison, Gershon Iskowitz, Maud Lewis, John Little, Jean McEwen, Norval Morrisseau, Kazuo Nakamura, William Perehudoff, Bill Reid, Goodridge Roberts, Otto Rogers, Gordon Smith and Takao Tanabe.

    Live previews will take place at the Cowley Abbott Gallery located at 326 Dundas Street West (located across the street from the Art Gallery of Ontario) beginning the weekend of Art Toronto – Friday, October 25. Cowley Abbott’s Fall Live Auction of Important Canadian Art will take place on Tuesday, November 19 at 7 p.m. EST at the Gardiner Museum located at 111 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON.

    Since its inception in 2013, Cowley Abbott’s live and online auctions have included headline-grabbing works such as a rare 100-year-old Tom Thomson portrait (Daydreaming, sold for $172,500), a celebrated depiction of Kensington Market by William Kurelek (Hot Day in Kensingon Market, sold for $472,000), and Jack Bush’s Summer Lake, which broke online auction records in May 2014 for the most expensive painting by a Canadian artist to be sold in an online auction ($310,500). Their inaugural live auction event in May 2016 set the record for the highest-selling Algoma sketch by Lawren Harris, fetching $977,500, tripling the previous auction record.

    Cowley Abbott is currently accepting consignments for its upcoming auctions. Cowley Abbott offers all-inclusive selling commissions and the lowest buyer’s premium in the industry. Those interested in consignment can arrange a complimentary and confidential consultation by contacting Cowley Abbott’s specialists at 1-866-931-8415 or [email protected].