Home Fine Art Auctions, Shows, Fairs, and Sales Jackson Hole Art Auction Sees $5.6 million in Sales

Jackson Hole Art Auction Sees $5.6 million in Sales

September 23, 2019

Jackson Hole Art Auction - FineArtConnoisseur.com — Carl Rungius (1869–1959), “Alaskan Wilderness,” oil on canvas, 40 1/4 x 50 1/4 in. Estimate: $400,000-$600,000; Sold: $642,500

Hosted by Trailside Galleries and the Gerald Peters Gallery, the 13th Annual Jackson Hole Art Auction saw 84 percent of the 518 lots sold over two days, realizing over $5.6 million in sales.

More from the organizers:

The cover lot, Carl Rungius’ “Alaskan Wilderness,” topped the sale, exceeding its high estimate at $642,500 after enthusiastic bidding in the room. The price marks a house record for Rungius, and the all-time second highest price for the artist at auction.

Seventeen new artist world records were established, including “The Red Shield” by Roy Andersen, which realized a world record price-per-square-inch for the artist. The sale also saw the highest price achieved to date for a G. Harvey bronze at auction, with “The Spirit of Texas” bringing $36,000. Both sessions featured very active bidding across a variety of genres, excellent floor attendance, and robust remote bidding.

G. Harvey (1933–2017), “The Spirit of Texas” (2006), bronze 5/25, 48 x 40 x 15 1/2 in.
Estimate: $30,000-$50,000; Sold: $36,000 *World Record* for bronze

Works by Bob Kuhn saw strong interest, with “The Look Before the Leap” bringing $180,000, while “Cat on the Qui Vive” sold for $175,500.

Bob Kuhn (1920–2007), “The Look Before the Leap” (1996), acrylic on masonite, 20 x 35 1/2 in.
Estimate: $100,000-$200,000; Sold: $180,000

Bob Kuhn (1920–2007), “Cat on the Qui Vive” (1996), acrylic on masonite, 20 x 36 in.
Estimate: $150,000-$250,000; Sold: $175,500

Other exceptional wildlife results included Tucker Smith’s “Shiras Bull,” selling above estimate at $64,350, and Robert Bateman’s “Elk and Aspen,” which brought $81,900. Carl Rungius’s “Timber” sold for $105,300, while his “Bighorn Sheep” achieved $76,050.

Tucker Smith (1940–Present), “Shiras Bull,” oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in.
Estimate: $30,000-$50,000; Sold: $64,350

Robert Bateman (1930 –Present), “Elk and Aspen,” acrylic on canvas, 48 x 60 in.
Estimate: $80,000-$120,000; Sold: $81,900

Carl Rungius (1869–1959), “Timber,” oil on canvas, 24 x 32 in.
Estimate: $150,000-$250,000; Sold: $105,300

Carl Rungius (1869–1959), “Bighorn Sheep,” oil on canvas, 16 x 20 in.
Estimate: $80,000-$120,000; Sold: $76,050

Classic western art shone at this year’s Jackson Hole Art Auction, with William R. Leigh’s “Faithful” bringing $175,500, and Charles M. Russell’s “The Three Wise Men” selling for $169,650.

William R. Leigh (1866–1955), “Faithful,” oil on canvas, 28 x 36 in.
Estimate: $200,000-$300,000; Sold: $175,500

Charles M. Russell (1864–1926), “The Three Wise Men” (1920), gouache on brown paper, 23 1/2 x 40 in.
Estimate: $200,000-$400,000; Sold: $169,650

Olaf Wieghorst’s “The Last March” sold for nearly double the low estimate at an impressive $93,600, and Charlie Dye’s iconic western scene “Remuda” achieved the high end of its estimate, also bringing $93,600.

Olaf Wieghorst (1899–1988), “The Last March,” oil on canvas, 20 x 26 in.
Estimate: $50,000-$75,000; Sold: $93,600

Strong interest in contemporary work drove numerous pieces over their high estimates — chief among them was Logan Maxwell Hagege’s “The Rising Clouds,” which sold for $187,200. James Bama’s “Trout Creek Ranch” also soared above its high estimate, bringing $81,900 after spirited bidding.