This past year was an eventful one for Cowley Abbott, and we are grateful to the Canadian art community for their continued support.
Our November live auction boasts many impressive results, including a 85% sell-through rate, multiple bidding wars, and auction records for works by J.W. Morrice and Lionel LeMoine Fitzgerald. Our 2025 Spring live auction also saw strong results, including artist records for Yves Gaucher, Frances Anne Hopkins, and others. View all 2025 live auction results here.
2025 saw many “firsts” for Cowley Abbott, including:
A private sales booth at Art Toronto (October 2025): Our first presence at the fair as an exhibitor, allowing us to showcase select works and connect with new collectors.
A David Blackwood selling exhibition: Presented in collaboration with the Blackwood Estate, this marked our first selling show devoted entirely to the artist.
The “Ideas of North” exhibition: Curated by Mark Cheetham, this was our first academically curated thematic exhibition, offering a fresh perspective on northern imagery in Canadian art.
Our 5 à 7 cocktail events went on tour: We hosted these collector evenings off-site, partnering with both Olga Korper Gallery and Stephen Bulger Gallery.
Launch of our new website: A major milestone, providing clients with a streamlined browsing and bidding experience across all departments. The website will evolve in early 2026, providing new features and bidding experience, allowing collectors an expansive experience as they continue to collect with Cowley Abbott. Stay tuned!
Sponsorship of the Helen McNicoll exhibition at the Art Gallery of Hamilton: Proudly supporting scholarship and visibility for an important Canadian woman artist.
Panel discussion and exhibition tours for our Women’s Group: We expanded our programming with a panel event and two guided exhibition tours.
Live auction previews in Calgary and Montreal: We continued our recurring preview exhibitions in both cities, welcoming collectors and engaging with local communities.
In addition to these “firsts”, Cowley Abbott also participated in the following recurring events:
Art With Heart preview and auctioneering: We once again hosted the official preview for Casey House’s fundraiser Art With Heart, with Rob Cowley and Perry serving as auctioneers for this important fundraising event.
Valuation days across Canada: We held numerous valuation events nationwide, including at the MacLaren Art Centre, the Ottawa Art Gallery, and the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, as well as a special art presentation at The Rooms.
Participation in Canadian Art Hop: We took part in this annual cross-Canada celebration of art, connecting with collectors and institutions through coordinated exhibitions and events.
Thank you for being a vital part of a momentous 2025—a year marked by meaningful collaborations, new initiatives, and continued growth at Cowley Abbott. We are truly grateful for your support and engagement throughout these milestones. We look forward to sharing many more exciting events and projects in 2026 as we continue to celebrate Canadian art together.
