Deutscher and Hackett

The ability of artists like 70-year-old John Mawurndjul to transform Kuningku bark painting – pioneering a new interpretation of clan sites and inspiring the next generation of bark painters – could be one of the reasons for the strong international and local interest in Australian indigenous art as more collectors become aware of the genre.

Thinking about starting a modern and contemporary art collection? Then have a look at Deutscher and Hackett’s online auction, which ends from 7pm Wednesday February 15, at which 36 art works – many by well-known Australian artists and all carrying affordable catalogue estimates – will go under the hammer.

Legendary street artist Banksy holds the top billing with Gangsta Rat 2004 (lot 25) carrying a catalogue estimate of $40,000-$60,000.

Australian artist Richard Larter’s (1929-2014) colourful abstracts have always been a favourite for pop art collectors and auction goers will have the opportunity to view and bid for his works at Deutscher and Hackett’s timed online Aboriginal and Contemporary Art auction finishing from 7pm Tuesday December 13 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

Howard Arkley’s (1951-1999) painting High Fenced, 1996 – exhibited in November that year by Tolarno Galleries at the prestigious German art fair Art Cologne – was an important milestone in his efforts to achieve international recognition, culminating in his representation of Australia at the 48^th Venice Biennale in 1999, a month before he died.

It’s almost 2400 kilometres from Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital to the Hermannsburg Mission west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory – but for Melbourne orthopaedic surgeon and collector the late John Hart (1937-2014) it was only a hop, step and a jump.

A renowned nature lover, bibliophile, fine wine connoisseur and enthusiastic art and map collector, John headed up the hospital’s orthopaedic unit from 1980 to 2003.

Australian photographer the late Joyce Evans (1929-2019) not only was revered internationally as the “doyenne of Australian photography” – she also was an art historian, gallery director, curator, collector and lecturer.

Awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia just before her death for her service to the photographic arts, Joyce had an enviable collection of photographs by other leading Australian shutter bugs that will be auctioned as a timed online sale closing from 7pm Tuesday October 11 by Deutscher and Hackett at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

Seven highly valuable paintings from the collections of two icons of Australian media and advertising should really send art collectors and investors into a spin when Deutscher and Hackett holds its important Australian and International Fine Art auction from 7pm September 14 at its Sydney 36 Gosbell Street, Paddington venue.

When legendary Australian artworld figure the late Dr Joseph Brown was assembling an art collection for Australian superannuation giant Cbus, he was careful to include Aboriginal bark paintings by Wally Mandarrk (1915-1987), a senior member of the Barabba clan from South-Central Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory fluent in the Dalabon language and one of the last artists known to have painted on rock.

It is not often that art lovers have such an extended chance to obtain a slice of Australian history – however, as the comprehensive Australian art collection assembled by superannuation giant Cbus from 1992 to 2007 continues to be offered at auction, this is exactly what is happening.

Part III, dealing with Traditional and Modern Art – the second of three timed online auctions – is now on the Deutscher and Hackett website and ends from 7pm Tuesday August 16.

The Australian art collection, engineered on behalf of superannuation giant Cbus by legendary artworld figure the late Dr Joseph Brown (1918-2009), continues to entice auction goers in the first of three timed online August auctions from 7pm Tuesday August 9 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

The first sale on July 27 featured 100 “highlight” paintings that realised more than $9 million.

This August 9 auction is expected to result in a much lower but still healthy more than an $800,000 return from the 71 paintings on offer.