Seven paintings by Jean Paul Riopelle sold for more than $11 million at an auction Thursday night in Toronto.
The 1951 canvas “Untitled (Composition #2),” which combines palette knife and drip work, sold for the modest sum of $5,701,250 at Maison Heffel’s fall auction, with offers coming from all corners of the world.
The sale of Self, a rare self-portrait by Riopelle that would have celebrated its 100th birthday this year, was settled for $3,901,250.
Photo provided by Maison Heffel
These results confirm the Quebec artist’s status as an internationally recognized abstract expressionist whose extraordinary artistic vision continues to fascinate art lovers, according to the auction organizers.
“The resounding success and results of tonight’s auctions testify to the quality of the works, the enthusiasm of foreign collectors and the dynamism of the art world,” said Robert Heffel, vice-president of the Maison de Heffel auction with facilities in Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa and Calgary .
“By finding new owners for these valuable masterpieces, we continue our commitment to presenting exceptional works that transcend generations,” the collector added.
Heffel’s live auctions generated total sales of $23.5 million.
Paul-Émile Borduas and Emily Carr
Paul-Émile Borduas, Emily Carr, Alex Colville, Christopher Pratt and EJ Hughes also stood out on this extremely lucrative evening.
The painting Miniatures empressées, painted by Paul-Émile Borduas in 1955, shortly after his New York great period, attracted the attention of foreign collectors and sold for $1,441,250. This was the first time this work was auctioned. By then it had been part of an important Toronto collection for more than 60 years and was estimated at $900,000 to $1.2 million.
The painting “Miniatures empressées”, painted in 1955 by Paul-Émile Borduas, was sold on November 23, 2023 for $1.4 million. Photo provided by Maison Heffel
The moving film “Alert Bay” (Indian in Yellow Blanket) by Emily Carr (1912) reached $1,681,250. The painting was estimated at $1 million to $1.5 million.
Emily Carr’s 1912 painting “Alert Bay (Indian in Yellow Blanket)” sold for $1.6 million on November 23, 2023. Photo provided by Maison Heffel