Cowley Abbott Spring 2024 Auction Preview in Winnipeg

Winnipeggers will have an unprecedented opportunity to view firsthand a curated selection of 40 Canadian and international artworks – including 14 pieces being sold from the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq’s permanent collection – before the art comes up for bids at live auction in Toronto on May 30.

Mayberry Fine Art and its Toronto partner Cowley Abbott will host the rare preview May 1 to 4 at Mayberry’s Exchange District Gallery (212 McDermot Ave.) The 40 pieces carry a pre-auction estimated value of $7 million to $10 million. The paintings from the WAG-Qaumajuq collection are expected to account for $500,000 to $700,000 of that total.

Proceeds from the sale of the WAG-Qaumajuq artworks will bolster the public gallery’s Legacy Fund at The Winnipeg Foundation, with support for the acquisition of contemporary Canadian art.

This year, WAG-Qaumajuq is selling paintings that provide a snapshot of Canadian art history spanning eight decades -- from the early 1900s through the 1970s.

The WAG-Qaumajuq assemblage includes early Group of Seven paintings, post-War pieces, mid-century abstracts and works by Prairie Modernists such as celebrated Winnipeg artists Ivan Eyre and Tony Tascona. Oil paintings by David Milne and Manitoban William Kurelek are expected to garner the highest bids with sale price estimates in the six figures.

Works by other prominent artists with a Winnipeg connection will also be on the auction block including those of Walter J. Phillips, L.L. Fitzgerald, Charles Comfort, Bertram Brooker, and University of Manitoba art professor Ken Lochhead.

WAG-Qaumajuq has identified for sale artworks from the collection where there is considerable depth and representation of the artist and field. As part of the decision-making process, Mayberry Fine Art and Cowley Abbott provided expert advice regarding current valuations and the art market.

“WAG-Qaumajuq is not just a custodian of history or a museum for historical art. Our mandate is also to collect and celebrate contemporary artists, to establish their reputations and, ultimately, shape Canadian culture through our collection of visual art. The endowment fund will make that possible,” said, Stephen Borys, WAG-Qaumajuq director and CEO.

Auction houses typically deduct a selling commission on each artwork sold, but Cowley Abbott will donate its commission from the sale of the WAG-Qaumajuq artworks in support of the endowment fund, as it did with the Warhol sales.

“I expect there will be considerable local interest in the preview, especially in WAG-Qaumajuq’s notable works given the weight of their provenance – being from the WAG permanent collection,” said Mayberry gallery co-owner Shaun Mayberry.

“We decided to preview the WAG-Qaumajuq works here to give Winnipeggers the opportunity to view the art ahead of the auction. We believe many local art lovers would enjoy owning a painting from the collection and, in turn, contributing to the endowment fund.”

Major art auction houses have not previously held pre-sale previews in Winnipeg, but Cowley Abbott recognizes the strong art market in Winnipeg and the importance of providing Winnipeg collectors with a first-hand look at significant pieces it will be bringing to auction.

Rob Cowley, president and co-owner of Cowley Abbott, noted, “Auction has always been a great avenue for new collectors because of the wide variety of artwork available and the convenience to participate. Our auction preview at Mayberry is a wonderful opportunity not only for seasoned collectors, but also for Winnipeggers looking to start collecting.”

During the four-day preview, potential bidders can discuss pre-sale estimates and making an order (advance) bid with Cowley Abbott. The May 30 live auction in Toronto includes not only in-person bidding, but also accommodates remote telephone and real-time, online bidding.

Last year, Cowley Abbott auctioned four Andy Warhol silkscreen portraits of Queen Elizabeth ll chosen by the WAG for deaccession. The Warhols garnered $780,000 for the endowment fund.

“It’s gratifying that our collaboration with WAG-Qaumajuq, in partnership with Mayberry Fine Art, allows us to support the acclaimed public gallery in the ongoing development of its contemporary collection,” Lydia Abbott, Cowley Abbott vice-president and co-owner, said.

Among the additional 26 pieces that Cowley Abbott has arranged to bring to Winnipeg for preview are: Brazeau Snowfield, Jasper Park (1924) by Lawren Harris with a pre-auction estimate of $2 million to $3 million and Summer, Algonquin Park (1914) by Tom Thomson estimated to sell from $700,000 to $900,000.

Artworks by Paul Kane, Emily Carr, Jean Paul Riopelle, A.Y. Jackson and Cornelius Krieghoff will also be previewed at Mayberry Fine Art.

Following the Winnipeg viewings, Cowley Abbott will also host previews of the art from May 11 to 30 at its Toronto gallery showrooms (326 Dundas Street West) ahead of its live and livestreamed auction at the Globe and Mail Centre.